Shadow, Chapter X

Jeff Wilson · 19 Nov 2008, 08:29 · from 2008-November.txt.gz

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From: jwilson at io.com (Jeff Wilson)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:29:36 -0600
Subject: (urth) Shadow, Chapter X
In-Reply-To: <077EEE21-12A6-48EC-8B48-BEF9079ABA92 at butcherbaker.org>
References: <W315002510453461227031732@webmail15> <49236E61.4030801 at io.com>
	<077EEE21-12A6-48EC-8B48-BEF9079ABA92 at butcherbaker.org>
Message-ID: <4923CE70.9080000 at io.com>

Son of Witz wrote:
> 
> On Nov 18, 2008, at 5:39 PM, Jeff Wilson wrote:
> 
>> Son of Witz wrote:
>>> I don't think we're in disagreement here. I was unaware about the
>>> Hellenic vies, but my point was that, unless you look at this with
>>> the eye that everything was adjusted and manipulated by higher
>>> powers, it just seems like he stumbles into exactly where he needs to
>>> be.  Lacking that justification, it would be very unbelievable.  I
>>> wouldn't fault anyone who read BoTNS (without Urth) for thinking
>>> that, because it wasn't until Urth that I saw the backwards timeline
>>> and began to grasp the depth of the manipulation of Severian's life.
>>
>> But my opinion is that there is a still higher level of manipulation 
>> of the manipulators by the Increate, who in some way is or is in 
>> sympathy with Severian, perhaps in some Teilhard de Chardin-esque way.-
>> Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
> 
> I agree,  I wrote:
> "I'm now convinced that he's steered along almost completely. I take it 
> as the hand of God. Dress that up with the characters however you want, 
> be they Angels or Aliens or whatever."
> 
> The Increate you mention, is God.
> though I'm sure you don't need me to point that out.

I think the Increate is more strongly identified with Severian than with 
out concept of God, and since that identity is behind the stagehands 
that are behind the scenes, it's not Severian being steered so much as 
SevIncreate producing a live autobiographical drama starring SevConciliator.

-- 
Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
< http://www.io.com/~jwilson >

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