Pike's Ghost

Gerry Quinn · 29 Nov 2011, 13:36 · from 2011-November.txt.gz

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From: gerry at bindweed.com (Gerry Quinn)
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:36:52 -0000
Subject: (urth) Pike's Ghost
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W590B365923C00EEFC688FECFB20 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W590B365923C00EEFC688FECFB20 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <22ADFAE72ECA44F79005CB309B469900@Rover>

From: Lee Berman 

> Leaving the question of Typhon's alien nature aside for now, the Mandragora seems 
> almost indisputable proof of Typhon's potential to be cloned or downloaded into a
> new body in some manner. There is nothing dragon-like about the fetus in the bottle.
> What possible reason is there for Wolfe to call it "Mandragora" if not to refer to 
> Typhon, the only other reference to a man-dragon there is.

Mandragora is a quite standard name for such homunculi.  In fact, it?s the *only* meaning given by Wikipedia:

?In myth, mandragoras are familiar demons who appear in the figures of little men without beards.
Mandragoras are thought to be little dolls or figures given to sorcerers by the Devil for the purpose of being consulted by them in time of need;?

How can you talk of ?undisputable proof??  All you have is an inconsequential pun.  Nothing whatsoever connects the mandragora to Typhon. 

> Severian is shocked beyond belief that Typhon would choose to have his own head chopped
> off as most of us would be. But Typhon just laughs it off casually demonstrating a lack
> of human body self-identification and preservation that we all share. Moreover Typhon
> says he was not born, in the way Severian understands it. The evidence seems pretty 
> clear that the blond-haired body in which Typhon resides is not his original self.

What blond-haired body?  Typhon resides in Piaton?s body.  And indeed, it is not his original self.  Nor was his current self born, in the way Severian would understand it.

- Gerry Quinn
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