a lurker asks a question

Matt Teel · 29 Sep 2008, 16:03 · from 2008-September.txt.gz

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From: adeodatus43 at yahoo.com (Matt Teel)
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:03:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: (urth) a lurker asks a question
In-Reply-To: <BB19A147-F9FF-4FFC-AC13-53CB225DFBD7 at io.com>
Message-ID: <404259.89423.qm at web59604.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

Thanks Adam.
?
I did find those things in the archives (the reference to Borges is especially interesting to me).? But I'm thinking all of that is pretty self-referential, and that surely there is some reason from *within the story* for the existence of this scene: some plot piece put into place, for example, that I'm missing.? 
?
Every scene in a book generally has a number of things going on.? While Wolfe's own Hitchcock-like appearance, and the reference to Borges, are interesting,?I have a hunch they aren't the?*reason* for the scene.? And that's what's really got me stumped.
?
Thanks again!? I appreciate your taking the time.
?
Matt

--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Adam Thornton <adam at io.com> wrote:

From: Adam Thornton <adam at io.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) a lurker asks a question
To: adeodatus43 at yahoo.com, "The Urth Mailing List" <urth at lists.urth.net>
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 3:45 PM

On Sep 29, 2008, at 10:34 AM, Matt Teel wrote:

I've gone through the Urth archives and haven't found an answer, so I thought I would bring it to the group.? What does this chapter contribute to the story?? I mean, on a superficial level we certainly get a feel for life in the Citadel, the stagnation of the culture; we get some interesting information about another guild ... but what else?? What am I missing?? Surely there's more to it than that.
?

This scene establishes Nessus as Buenos Aires. ?The blind librarian is Borges. ?I believe that Cyby is a Gary-Stu. ?Mostly, I think it's a big tip of the hat to Borges and his influence on _BotNS_.

Adam

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