Hethor

David Stockhoff · 27 Oct 2011, 16:24 · from 2011-October.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:24:50 -0400
Subject: (urth) Hethor
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W5187E042107E42E4022872CFD20 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W5187E042107E42E4022872CFD20 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4EA985D2.9030808 at verizon.net>

On 10/27/2011 12:05 PM, Lee Berman wrote:
> If we must have Hethor as inspired by a current-day name, I would like to
> propose the more obvious sound-alike, Heather. Does it bother some because
> it is a girl's name? It doesn't bother me since I consider Hethor to be of
> the same ilk as Tzadkiel and thus without a definite gender. Moreover,
> heather is also a sort of wool fabric which comes in shades of gray. And
> Hethor is a character dominated by that color. (I don't see any connection
> to the heather plant).

excellent!

If you think of the Long Sun naming conventions, the plant would suggest 
a female person. Since (a) those conventions can't apply because the 
reader doesn't know them yet and (b) we know Wolfe considers EVERY 
connotation, I agree that "heather gray" is an intended association. The 
plant looks gray-purple even in bloom; his doll's eyes are purple or 
violet; his own hair is gray.

But additionally I wouldn't put it past Hethor to slyly imagine himself 
as a woman if he is from our era. He's all kinds of messed up.

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