The hieros family

Jonathan Laidlow · 23 Apr 1999, 15:07 · from urth-v0026.mbox · original

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From: "Jonathan Laidlow" <LAIDLOJM at hhs.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: (urth) The hieros family
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 15:07:31 GMT
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Can we make this clear : who is who...

The Hieros are the long-gone final evolutionary stage of a cognate of=20
humanity.
The hierogrammates are their creations
The hierodules are the servants of the hierogrammates.

The purpose of the new sun is to kick start humanity's evolution to=20
become the Hieros and thus create the hierogrammates.

In Peter Wright's reading the Christian allusions and resonances are=20
red herrings - the hierogrammates are self-serving beings who exploit=20
humanity's use of narratives to structure reality by using our=20
mythology to further their own ends. Thus in this very mechanistic=20
reading Tzadkiel appears to be an angel because that will push=20
Severian's buttons.

And furthermore Severian's memory allows him to be the ultimate=20
repository of these myths, and thus the ultimate tool.

Sorry, I just reread Wright's 'God-Games' essay last night, and was=20
very impressed. I can't agree with everything he says - he discounts=20
any spiritual link between the hieros family and God.

I'm with Nick Gevers on this - the Increate still works through his=20
flawed creation. The Archangel in Melito's story knows no more than=20
the farmyard animals.
And Patera Silk has not been promised help, he is the help.

Rambling again,

Jonathan
Visit Ultan's Library - A Gene Wolfe web resource
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Jonathan Laidlow
University of Birmingham, UK

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