Drotte-Roche mixup

James Wynn · 20 Apr 2011, 15:28 · from 2011-April.txt.gz

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From: crushtv at gmail.com (James Wynn)
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:28:55 -0500
Subject: (urth) Drotte-Roche mixup
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W48E618A7DF66E6105F652CCF930 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W48E618A7DF66E6105F652CCF930 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4DAEFBB7.2070401 at gmail.com>

>> James Wynn: "Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that the Roche/Drotte mix-up
>> could be a typo..
> Lee Berman:
> I wouldn't go so far as to say it couldn't be a typo. But one reason I lean toward Antonio's
> view and why Drotte-Roche might need a somewhat higher level of typo evaluation than the Maytera
> Marble example is the obvious- Severian is (self-) purported to have a perfect memory. I would
> expect an author to find ways to support and/or undercut the "perfect memory" assertion in the
> first few chapters. So it could be purposeful.
>
> Horn makes no such claim and Wolfe has openly identified the "Marble" mistake as a typo.

Well, Wolfe was specifically asked about the Mint/Marble typos. Has 
anyone done so regarding this one? I think it would be a good idea.

It is true that it occurs in the first 5 paragraphs when proof-readers 
would be expected to still be paying close attention, but the 
Mint/Marble errors do not even require anyone to be paying close attention.

Conclusion: It's either a typo and means nothing, or it is NOT a typo 
and re-focuses the whole book.

Reason:
1) This "error" occurs immediately after Severian makes his first claim 
to a perfect memory --in highly lyrical form.

2) Sev is told by the Heirogrammates that it is his perfect memory that 
makes him a worthy "epitome" for mankind. If he does not have a perfect 
memory, then either Heirogs are LYING (ala Peter Wright) or Wolfe is 
saying something about what is happening when Severian tinkers with the 
Time streams and using Sevs perfect memory to clearly identify that that 
is happening.

> Perhaps a third possibility exists..that it was originally a typo but it was not corrected, being
> seen as a happy accident that served Wolfe's purposes nicely. (Does an observed but purposefully
> uncorrected typo cease to be a typo?) 		 	   		

But then we must know what that purpose was.

Still, we must accept (based on the "Long Sun" examples) that Tor has an 
established pattern of simply not correcting overt typos in Wolfe's 
novels even when they serve no narrative purpose. Even when they have 
proved to be confusing to the readers. Even when the errors greatly 
annoy the author. So without the author or publishers weighing in, it is 
impossible to know for sure.

J.

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