Like a good Neighbor

James Wynn · 21 Nov 2011, 19:26 · from 2011-November.txt.gz

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From: crushtv at gmail.com (James Wynn)
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:26:35 -0600
Subject: (urth) Like a good Neighbor
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>>
>>> David Stockhoff wrote (21-11-2011 15:25):
>>>> Why do you think a death here harms the story?
>>>
>>> Ant?nio Pedro Marques wrote:
>>> I think the problem with Horn dying at this point is the consequence
>>
>> James Wynn wrote
>> I absolutely see that. But I think we need go where the text is taking
>> us. As I said, Horn dying and being resurrected is a mystery that we
>> should discuss. WHETHER he dies and resurrects is pretty 
>> straightforward.
>> Nothing is more undermining of Wolfe criticism than taking one of his
>> stories and saying, "This is such-and-such kind of story." Wolfe is 
>> about
>> subverting those expectations.
>
> Ant?nio Pedro Marques wrote:
> Oh, I'm all for that discussion. The only thing I'm not for - here as 
> in other other place - is positing some idea and then remain satisfied 
> with the positing itself, not exploring the consequences. 

I absolutely agree. But unpleasant thematic or narrative consequences is 
not a reason to reject the obvious direction the story has taken. I miss 
a lot of cues the first time when reading Wolfe. I didn't miss this one 
though. It's just not subtle.

And I disagree that it harms the storm at all. It is classic Wolfean to 
have a narrator is that is fundamentally different --in nature or 
identity-- than the one superficially presented: 1) Dr. Marsch's diary, 
2) dead Weer, 3) Latro (who cannot verify the veracity of anything in 
his own diary), 4) Severian who has been multiple people throughout his 
life, 5) the translator of the Book of the New Sun, 5) Able who cannot 
remember the years he spent in Aelfrice, 6) the narrator of Seven 
American Nights...
The Book of the Short Sun is the essential Wolfe novel.

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