Horn's ability

David Stockhoff · 27 Oct 2011, 13:43 · from 2011-October.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:43:16 -0400
Subject: (urth) Horn's ability
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W38CBAA2ECF405583BFFCA2CFD20 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W38CBAA2ECF405583BFFCA2CFD20 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4EA95FF4.2090209 at verizon.net>

On 10/26/2011 10:11 PM, Lee Berman wrote:
> okay, that is a notable distinction. Hethor did choose his own name. We can't know if he
>
> erred in choosing a saint name that had satanic overtones or if he did it on purpose.
>
>
>
> It's kind of like the veiled satanic references in Ultan's dialog. It seems WOlfe knew
>
> what he was doing when he put them there but we can't know Ultan's motivation in
>
> mentioning them. Is he trying to send a coded message to Severian or just accidentally
>
> revealing too much, as he does when discussiong the eating of the dead.
>
>
>
> David Stockhoff: (When I googled "hethor name" it suggested "hector." the resemblance is
> close enough for google's algorithm ...)
>
>
> ;-)  I can't argue with that. (Such name distortions still don't seem like anything we see
>
> anywhere in the Sun Series)

I agree. OTOH, none of those characters are said to choose their own names.

OTOH yet again, the translator really chose everyone's name, on what 
basis it's not clear. But the rules exclude all names not saintly or 
mythological---not even biblical names pass muster. So both Hector and 
Heston would need the "treatment," and we are back where we began.

Note: Mantis misses Jonas's saint namesake. "Saint Jonas was beaten with 
knotty clubs and with rods until his ribs were visible, but he blessed 
God. Then he was chained by one foot and dragged to a frozen pond to 
spend the night there." Also, FWIW, there is an important Korean Saint 
Kim: http://magnificat.ca/cal/engl/09-16b.htm

I see 2 main points: (a) Hethor does not come from Troy. Rather, he 
comes from an spaceflight era that might have been dominated by Anglos 
(Jonas) and Asians (Kimleesoong). He could have been French or Spanish, 
but those associations are weak; I don't think he quotes any Borges the 
way Jonas quotes Carroll. (b) He chose a name that seems "normal" but on 
closer examination reveals an evil shadow. Perfect for Hethor.

Given (b), I am not sure his real name is important. It could have been 
Billsmith and the rules would be satisfied.

Lee, do you have a link for your demonic magistrate finding? Most of 
what I find is about OUR Hethor!

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