Vodalus & the Old Autarch

Jeff Wilson · 11 Aug 2010, 18:10 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: jwilson at io.com (Jeff Wilson)
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:10:23 -0500
Subject: (urth) Vodalus & the Old Autarch
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTikUVjrzXaDcwSfn8geisbwddaYvuo4fZwNfBG3f at mail.gmail.com>
References: <764104.69060.qm at web84104.mail.mud.yahoo.com>	<4C624B28.8040208 at io.com>
	<AANLkTikUVjrzXaDcwSfn8geisbwddaYvuo4fZwNfBG3f at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4C62E78F.5030103 at io.com>

On 8/11/2010 12:35 PM, Dave Gottlieb wrote:
> In that scene, it is said to be a combination of Thecla's recollections
> and the Autarch's "tone" that leads Severian to finally recognize him.
> If we allow ourselves to emphasize the "tone" part, it may be that the
> Autarch has some power of concealment (hypnosis?), and intentionally
> casts off the veil for some reason at the end of the exchange.
> At the end of Citadel, Severian is privy to some Autarchial knowledge
> (power words?) that command instant recognition from a broad swath of
> servants of the Commonwealth. Perhaps the Autarch is using similar
> techniques to control who does and doesn't recognize his identity.

The Autarch as Bene Gesserit?

-- 
Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
IEEE Student Chapter Blog at
< http://ieeetamut.org >

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