The Apu-Punchau Eclipse

b sharp · 12 Jun 2008, 03:45 · from 2008-June.txt.gz

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From: bsharporflat at hotmail.com (b sharp)
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:45:56 -0400
Subject: (urth) The Apu-Punchau Eclipse
Message-ID: <BAY103-W45226CBCC5BFB8F70CD769D7AD0 at phx.gbl>

At the beginning of UotNS, while on the Ship deck, Severian specifically notes his weight has been
reduced by 7/8. So Roy's assertion that the Ship is of planetary size is a bit exaggerated but not 
by so much. A bit smaller but of similar size to our Moon, and thus surely capable of causing an eclipse. 

The lunar eclipse used by Columbus to intimidate the natives on February 29, 1504 is a good mention
by Jeff Wilson. That event could have inspired both Twain and Wolfe. But of course, Severian's is not
that one, being a solar eclipse.

Since I am quite in the minority in attributing the eclipse to Severian himself, I am probably wrong 
about it. The Ship's Moon size is evidence by itself.  The comment that the big Ship is capable of 
getting deeper into the solar system but would pass between eyes and stars seems like it could be 
an auctorial clue that the ship caused the eclipse.  Believing the assertion that Severian has gone
too far into the past and is powerless at the time of his trial is also evidence against my interpretation.

But I still retain a sense I could be right. Something just seems missing if Severian only twice uses his power
to affect nature in a cataclysmic way.  Nobody, certainly not Severian, seems capable of accurately 
predicting when, where and how his power will manifest itself from his personal being. He might have his 
full powers always.  In the afterward, Wolfe notes that a "thoughtful" reader can figure out what caused the
eclipse. Most seem to take him at his literal word and think about the ship. But I always saw that notation
as being a bit sarcastic, meaning that very little thought is needed to figure out what large body could be 
used to cause a solar eclipse. 

But I am probably wrong on this one ;-).

-bsharp
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