Mandragora

David Stockhoff · 30 Nov 2011, 15:14 · from 2011-November.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:14:39 -0500
Subject: (urth) Mandragora
In-Reply-To: <20111130142055.3288.qmail at server281.com>
References: <mailman.230596.1322660169.24088.urth-urth.net at lists.urth.net>
	<20111130142055.3288.qmail at server281.com>
Message-ID: <4ED6485F.2020404 at verizon.net>

On 11/30/2011 9:20 AM, Brian wrote:
> Since we all agree Wikipedia is never wrong ;), I'll just stick with 
> their definitions.  Mandragora is the genus of the plant mandrake, 
> which often has a somewhat man-shaped root.  It is also the name of a 
> type of demon.  These demons are little dolls given to a sorceror by 
> the Devil for the purpose of consulting "in time of need".  They are 
> thought to be related to the "/fetish 
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetishism>/, which is nothing else than 
> a dwelling-place made by a shaman 
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaman> or medicine-man 
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine-man> for the reception of any 
> wandering spirit who chooses to take up his abode therein."
>
> Admittedly, Wikipedia has this last quote labeled as "citation 
> needed", but this does sound remarkably like a spare body.

Very nice. And again, this points me to BLS/BSS, and their multitude of 
riders and ridden. Regardless of how much detail Wolfe had worked out by 
the time he finished BNS, the concept plainly was fully developed even 
though BNS *seems* to have little possession going on.
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