Sham War

Dave Lebling · 08 Aug 2010, 19:44 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: dlebling at hyraxes.com (Dave Lebling)
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:44:42 -0400
Subject: (urth) Sham War
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W4344AF8AFED8FB0B6DE553CF930 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W4344AF8AFED8FB0B6DE553CF930 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4C5F092A.8080703 at hyraxes.com>

I'm not all that certain which specific remarks you are referring to, 
but the Cumaean (during the scene in the stone town) talks about how 
service to Fr. Inire is a way of keeping a finger in both pies, as it 
were. The old Autarch talks about how Erebus would have traded him Ascia 
for the Commonweath, if it included Severian. I think his comment about 
"you could have both" means, "if you joined Erebus's side."

I don't see a lot that says the war is a sham, just that it's part of a 
larger war. Given that the war with Ascia is an analog of the Korean 
War, that's hardly surprising. Many details are similar. "We've driven 
them back half as far as they drove us south" (paraphrased). The Ascians 
are backed by a larger Power that really doesn't care about them. The 
war is barely noticed day-to-day at home in the Commonwealth. The 
Commonwealth forces are multi-national. Etc. I'm sure none of these 
details are new to you, but they all hammer home the Ascian War/Korean 
War analogy, in which there is a larger struggle outside that war, but 
that war is in itself significant, not a sham.

-- Dave Lebling

Lee Berman wrote:
>   
>> Dave Lebling: I'm curious why you believe the war with Ascia was a sham. Is this 
>> something you've posted about in the past?
>>     
>
> Not sure if I've posted on it in the past. I know some others have alluded to 
> similar ideas.
>  
> The reason for thinking it, in small part, is because Father Inire, the old Autarch 
> and even the Cumaean describe how they are playing for both sides of the conflict.
>  
> But the larger part comes from the comment the old Autarch makes to Severian before 
> he hands over the reins of power. He asks if Severian would prefer to command the 
> Ascian army. Or both armies. I take this, if not a sincere offer, as a truly possible 
> suggestion of something that could happen. A way of hinting to Severian that not all
> is as it seems.
>  
> Both Vodalus and Tzadkiel make reference to Severian's life being like a chess game,
> Vodalus discussing the dark and light sides, Tzadkiel mentioning the limitations of
> pawns. One of the Pelerines suggests to severian that much more is going on than a 
> battle between good and evil.
>  
> My interpretation is that the on- and off-screen powers are playing a chess
> game here. Perhaps the same power is playing both sides. The outcome doesn't matter.
> The purpose of the game is to test the players under game conditions...one player in 
> particular. I see a similar situation in regard to the conflicts on Tzadkiel's ship 
> and Yesod.
>  
> --
>  
> For some reason I am reminded of Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, where the main 
> character (an unpleasant guy) descends into mental illness as he becomes convinced
> he is the only human being on earth and all other people are robots sent to test him.
> At the end, he meets his Creator (Kurt Vonnegut jr. of course) in a bar and it all 
> becomes very autobiographical and sad.
>  
> I have to guess Gene Wolfe also has felt that powerful dark and light forces have been
> testing him his whole life. I'd guess he has dealt with them a little more consciously 
> and knowledgeably than Severian though on a less cosmic level. But this and others of 
> his work (Peace, surely) are his artistic way of expressing his tribulations and trials 
> of life.
>   		 	   		  
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