Father Inire Theory

Lee Berman · 06 Dec 2010, 12:34 · from 2010-December.txt.gz

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From: severiansola at hotmail.com (Lee Berman)
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 07:34:16 -0500
Subject: (urth) Father Inire Theory
Message-ID: <SNT123-W55857571D947390AB41DE6CF2B0 at phx.gbl>

>Jeff Wilson: It is very Wolfean for Typhon to be patterned after Alexander. But saying that a similar 
>likeness of Tzadkiel and Inire to Alexadner's gods makes it believable that Inirie is his own legion of 
>shape shifters who are never seen to change shape is as useful as saying it is believable that Wolfe implies 
>that Alexander was also a space tyrant, just one that was never seen to employ spaceships.

I see clues that Inire is patterned after Pan who could create his own legion of helpers. Why is this so
much less plausible than a character patterned after Alexander? Are you suggesting WOlfe would never put
a pagan god into his stories?

"as useful" to whom? Do you mean useful to yourself or are you speaking for all Wolfe readers?

I continue to find the adjective "believeable" an odd choice for a work of fiction. We may have different 
levels of rigidity in our perception of the real world. But it is my opinion that our perceptions of fiction 
are best kept fluid and flexible.

We never see Tzadkiel change shape either (only size). Do you have any skepticism that the succession of
creatures that Severian sees are all Tzadkiel? If you are 100% skeptical of various versions of Inire by
the absence of being shown the process, I'd think you'd be at least 50% skeptical of Tzadkiel's versions.
I am curious as to your level of doubt regarding Inhumi shapeshifting. Also for Abaia, The Mother (on Blue)
and Great Scylla.

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