Typhon, Sev, Silk

Lisa Schaffer-Doggett · 15 Mar 2003, 02:46 · from urth-v0303.mbox · original

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From: Lisa Schaffer-Doggett <harlekin at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: FW: (urth) Typhon, Sev, Silk
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 18:46:17 -0800
Message-ID: <urth-v0303-3087 at digest.urth.net>
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   -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan'l Danehy-Oakes <Dan'l.Danehy-Oakes at Siebel.com>
> To: Roy C. Lackey <rclackey at stic.net>
> Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 2:49 PM
> Subject: FW: (urth) Typhon, Sev, Silk

Don (not Lisa) writes:
First off, sorry for the double posts, I don't know what's going on=20
with that.

>
>
> Hi.
>
> Currently unable to post because of address stupidity, so replying
> in person. If you feel like responding to any of this on list feel
> free.
>
> First a "bravo!" to your main thesis -- Sev as Typhon's son simply does
> not work for precisely the thematic reasons you put forth.

I don't know what thematic reasons Roy put forth, but IMO there are=20
plenty of thematic reasons for Sev to be Typhon's son.  Aside from the=20
Hidden King theme, which occurs at least twice, thrice if you count KJ,=20
there is the Campbellian archetype of the Hero meeting his father who=20
is unknown (?) to him (Darth Typhon), and there is the Gravesian=20
Zeus/Cronos seasonal sun king relationship that would be between the=20
two if they are son and father.  In addition (and I realize this is=20
somewhat circular) if Silk is Typhon (arguable) or possibly more likely=20
a close blood relation of Typhon, this is a plausible and thematically=20
satisfying reason for Silk and Sev to be brought together in Return to=20
the Whorl.

> (I also
> wrote,
> but could not post, a note on the question of just where Don believes
> all these clones are coming from -- Silk-as-a-clone-of-Typhon is of
> course an exception to this question -- but where are all these,
> apparently
> fresh and viable, clones of Ymar coming from, a chiliad later, and how
> did they get growed, e.g., who put the one that grew into Severian into
> Katherine's belly? Etc.)
>

These fresh and viable clones would be easy to come by via the=20
corridors of time.  The woman in Jonas' story came from the stars.  If=20
Ymar's journey to Yesod was anything like Sev's he did a fair share of=20
time travel himself.  The embryo's came from Yesod as a part of the=20
Hiero's   manipulation.  My theory is that they spread the seeds far=20
and wide, possibly across every generation.  I knew this would be a=20
hard sell, but I am firmly convinced of its correctness.  I am glad at=20
least that you see my reasoning regarding Silk, whether you agree with=20
it completely or not.  I would add in reply to Roy that Typhon being=20
the baddest man in the galaxy actually furthers my thematic argument of=20
his redemption.  Silk is arguably one of the best men in the galaxy. =20
If they are the same person then, in addition to it being highly ironic=20
(almost reason enough on its own), it is also the ultimate expression=20
of the power and the Grace (in the theological sense) of the Outsider. =20
Compare that to the ham fisted approach of the hiero's in dealing with=20
the situation.

Another thing, I believe that the reason that Typhon did not use the=20
"possession" technology in order to change bodies has two=20
possibilities.  First, there was no way for him to bring a clone=20
quickly to age.  (Inire could possibly do this with the khaibits, but=20
there is no indication that Typhon could).  Another is that he planned=20
on using Silk as a puppet.  Pas, after all is a program and most likely=20
Typhon had the ability to override it.  Pas, possesses Silk and acts as=20
a proxy for the Monarch until he establishes contact.  Remember, Typhon=20
was beginning to believe he might never die.  Besides, Typhon is most=20
likely more complex than Pas, so it would be an incomplete transfer.

--=20

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