the point of it all

Clifford Drane · 09 Nov 1999, 03:58 · from urth-v0028.mbox · original

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From: "Clifford Drane" <dranec at hotmail.com>
Subject: (urth) the point of it all
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 21:58:48 CST
Message-ID: <urth-v0028-0434 at digest.urth.net>
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Daniel wrote, long ago...

>Indeed, in Severian's own time, there are different types of stories. Ther=
e=20
>is the story told by Loyal to the Group of Seventeen, for example. There i=
s=20
>Foila's story, which resembles a medieval romance. There is Melito's story=
,=20
>which is like a classical fable. There is also Hallvard's story, which is=20
>realism. Note that Severian never gets the chance to judge between these=20
>stories; nor does he tell the reader what judgement he might make. The=20
>implication is that all four are worthy.

I disagree that the implication (hence lesson of this mini-story) is that=20
all four are worthy - even if they are. I have always thought that this=20
story illustrates the fact that there is not always a happy ending, and in=20
many cases, no 'ending' at all. This, to me, is the ultra-refined meaning o=
f=20
the Urth Books. The Grand Unification Theory, if you will. :)

It's very Asian, almost Zen - the meaning of life is meaninglessness. The=20
storytelling contest has no end - and that IS the end.

The Urth books are filled to the brim with nuances, mysteries, etc. which w=
e=20
love love love to ponder on this board - and the books seem to illustrate=20
the point that life is full of things we will never fully grasp, chains of=20
events of which we will never understand the links (no matter how powerful=20
we become). Gene has created a narrative about an imperfect world told by a=
n=20
imperfect author, imperfectly. Just like real life.

I've caught myself digging through the archives, searching for the answer t=
o=20
some riddle, with the overriding thought that someday, this will all become=20
clear. But it won't - and THAT is the point.

Well, in MY opinion. :)

Cliff Drane

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