Severian the Liar

Matthew Malthouse · 22 Dec 1998, 01:31 · from urth-v0022.mbox · original

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From: Matthew Malthouse <matthew.malthouse at guardian.co.uk>
Subject: Re: (urth) Severian the Liar
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 01:31:59
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David_Lebling at avid.com wrote:
>=20
> It might be interesting to collect Severian's lies.  It has been remarked
> on occasion that he is an unreliable narrator, but we haven't listed more
> than one or two of his misleading or incorrect statements.  Just to get
> things going I'll mention one I noticed last night (yes, I've been
> compelled to read it again).
>=20
> In _Shadow_, after Severian's first visit to the House Azure, he remarks
> that after that he gave Roche (Drotte?, whomever) the money and never went
> back.  However, later on, when he is with Agia, he remarks that he had be=
en
> with "hired women in the town," implying multiple visits.

But nothing in that sugests that he returned to the House Azure itself. It
can't have been the only brothel in the quarter.

It may be that the phrase he used to Agia was a misdirection to forstall her
asking details?

Matthew

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