Memorare

Geoffrey · 06 Apr 2007, 22:31 · from 2007-April.txt.gz

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From: gcgoodale at mac.com (Geoffrey)
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2007 18:31:50 -0400
Subject: (urth) Memorare
In-Reply-To: <000c01c77815$07bfb8c0$9dc95a42 at rclackey.stic.net>
References: <000c01c77815$07bfb8c0$9dc95a42 at rclackey.stic.net>
Message-ID: <B6A9446C-997C-448D-8F3C-3C250AFE3DD7 at mac.com>

Insightful points, Roy.  This story stands out to me, an aging Ph.D.  
in English and an avid reader of Heinlein.
The idea of a glamour goes back to medieval times and was a precursor  
of demonic possession.
Shakespeare knew this when he has Macbeth envision a dagger before him.
Wolfe is at his subtle-yet-obvious best in Memorare, and the  
religious element is evident as I write this on Good Friday:
Memorare
Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection,
implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession,was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my  
Mother;
to Thee do we come, before thee we kneel, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions,
but in Thy clemency, hear and answer me.      Amen.

Geoffrey

On Apr 6, 2007, at 2:30 AM, Roy C. Lackey wrote:

> A key to understanding this story is the exact nature of the  
> glamour cast
> over the people in asteroid memorial #19. It causes people to look  
> better
> than they really look; the very young to look older, old people to  
> look
> younger. But it's only new arrivals who simply look better than  
> they did on
> arrival; those who have been there a while are shown by the camera  
> to be, in
> fact, sick and getting sicker by the day, soon to die. But it isn't  
> just
> people. A dank cavern looks like a pastoral heaven; a rickety shed  
> like a
> quaint cottage; sewage like tea, etc. How may this glamour be  
> categorized?
>
> March has an often repeated habit of rubbing his lantern jaw. Was  
> this the
> habit of some character from (pulp?) fiction I can't recall?
>
> With the pointed exception of "The Last Thrilling Wonder Story",  
> "Memorare"
> is the only other thing I have read by Wolfe that reminded me of  
> Heinlein.
> The near-future simplicity of the plot, the practical science, the  
> dialogue,
> Kit's characterization, all combined to give me that impression.  
> Anyone else
> see that?
>
> -Roy
>
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