Fairy Tale logic

Daniel Fusch · 02 Nov 1999, 02:06 · from urth-v0028.mbox · original

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From: "Daniel Fusch" <dfusch at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Fairy Tale logic
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 1999 18:06:11 PST
Message-ID: <urth-v0028-0330 at digest.urth.net>
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Hello, Michael.

(snip)
"So it may be the case that some have gone "too far" in using a science=20
fictional reading of Severian's Narrative, but it is within a context of=20
earlier readings that were completely blind to sf elements.  It is a valid=20
tool, but it does not have universal application throughout the text--yet=20
often the only way to tell if a sf rationale works for a given detail is to=20
actually try it out."

In the words of Tevye the dairyman (from "Fiddler on the Roof") -- "You are=20
also right."

I wonder about your comments on an alchemical interpretation of Typhon,=20
however. Typhon is connected both to the temptation of Christ in the=20
wilderness and to classical mythology--and these connections seem to me far=20
clearer and more useful than a connection to an alchemical symbol.

Here are my objections:

First--Piaton is not a woman.

Second--The two-headed man is a symbol all over the place--not just in=20
alchemy.

Third--What does Typhon have to do with alchemy? Unless you're trying to=20
draw a vague connection to the "dark arts" in attempting to "make" a=20
man--via Mary Shelley, etc.... But that leaps back to necromancy, not=20
alchemy.

Fourth--If Typhon is related to an alchemical symbol--then just what does=20
that mean? Is it a statement about alchemy? Is it a statement about Typhon'=
s=20
science or society? What relevance does it have?

Anyway, I'm skeptical.

(By the way, thought I'd mention--I enjoyed your book! And, incidentally,=20
another definition for Erebus--in Roman mythology, Erebus is the hell into=20
which Jupiter cast the Titans who aided Saturn in attempting to overthrow=20
him. And the Titans were giants, in one sense. Seems relevant, so I thought=20
I'd mention it.)

Daniel

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