a lurker asks a question

aaron · 29 Sep 2008, 21:10 · from 2008-September.txt.gz

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From: aaronsingleton at gmail.com (aaron)
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:10:42 -0400
Subject: (urth) a lurker asks a question
In-Reply-To: <404259.89423.qm at web59604.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>
References: <BB19A147-F9FF-4FFC-AC13-53CB225DFBD7 at io.com>
	<404259.89423.qm at web59604.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <ecbb2eb0809291410w40857cfbgab599f3db7a8ff64 at mail.gmail.com>

I can think of at least one reason for Severian's meeting Ultan, and that is
their discussion of the Alzabo and the sharing of consciousness with the use
of the analeptic alzabo.   But, like you, I feel there is something more I
am missing.  The beginning of the chapter is a good example, when Sev
mentions that he felt as if he and Ultan were both buried or something close
to that.  What does he really mean by this and when is it echoed later in
the books?  Maybe someone around here has a theory.

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 12:03 PM, Matt Teel <adeodatus43 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 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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