Boatman as Inire

Ryan Dunn · 07 Aug 2010, 14:20 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: ryan at liftingfaces.com (Ryan Dunn)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:20:11 -0400
Subject: (urth) Boatman as Inire
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W4120786751EAAD49CB3FFCF920 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W4120786751EAAD49CB3FFCF920 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <45DA3DE3-D580-4DB1-8F44-1BCDBB5CB9B5 at liftingfaces.com>

Another thing. I think in some ways, UotNS is basically BotNS For Dummies. Zak is, to me, a demonstration of shapeshifting so undeniable that we may be prompted to look back at the tetralogy and inspect that concept further. I think UotNS could be used as a code breaker for several BotNS mysteries.

If you're smelling what I'm cooking, who might Zak/Tzdakiel be pointing to in BotNS? I can think of no other candidate as good as Inire. Hethor maybe a close second, but Inire, and monkey like sightings keep my arm hairs raised the more I read the original four books.

...ryan

On Aug 7, 2010, at 7:04 AM, Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 
> 
>> Roy C. Lackey- You keep throwing out statements like that as if they were accepted Lupine
>> gospel: they are not. There is no textual evidence that Inire is either a
>> shape-changer or Sev's grandfather. You pile speculation upon speculation in
>> furtherance of one or another of your theories and/or some Grand Unified
>> Theory, no matter the cost to logic or the text.
> 
> Ah, Roy, I despair. How could you hurt me, once again, by implying I have some belief in
> "Lupine gospel". I don't even believe in any sort of gospel regarding the real world. How
> could I espouse such superstition regarding a work of fiction? I think I qualify my 
> suggestions with terms such as "I think" and "is possible" quite enough to dispel any notion
> I am attempting to write something with biblical authority.
> 
> But if I am compelled to defend my logic, I suppose, again, I must. I will contrast my idea that
> Father Inire is a shape-shifter with the idea that the maid-actress who plays Holy Katharine is
> Severian's mother. That inference is based on hair color, the name Catherine and reference to a
> pool of still water. Pretty flimsy evidence. Not very logical. Some don't buy it. Others who do
> are willing to make a small leap of faith because, I think, they feel we are expected by the 
> author to figure out who Severian's mother is. Maid Katharine is the best suggestion I've heard.
> 
> My inference regarding Father Inire is likewise inspired by a feeling that we are supposed to 
> figure out a mystery regarding this guy. There is textual evidence too numerous to mention that
> the aliens in this story are analagous to our pagan gods, monsters and angels. Many, many pagan
> gods, monsters and angel myths describe the ability to shape change. *Father Inire is an alien.* 
> 
> So the suggestion that Inire might be a shape changer is hardly illogical or completely 
> unsupported by the text. Shapeshifting is invoked numerous times in this story. Wolfe uses 
> shapeshifting characters explicitly in some of his other stories. I don't see how one could claim
> the idea of Father Inire as shapeshifter is impossible to have been on Gene Wolfe's mind as he 
> wrote this story.
> 
> If you feel there is no mystery to be solved regarding Father Inire, that's fine. If you have an
> alternate, better theory regarding his mystery I am certainly interested in hearing it. 
> 
> But if I am being told I have no right to even suggest a shape-shifting theory then I expect equal
> criticism for any poster who suggests Maid Katharine is Severian's mother. My theory has supporting 
> evidence all through the text; far better supported than Catherine with her dark hair, misspelled
> name and a puddle in the woods ;- ).                           
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