Severian, memory, alzabo

matthew.malthouse · 10 Jul 2003, 09:17 · from urth-v0307.mbox · original

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From: matthew.malthouse at guardian.co.uk
Subject: Re: (urth) Severian, memory, alzabo
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:17:09 +0100
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On 09/07/2003 19:09:22 Chris wrote:

>This is true, though the fact that they come to life within him seems=20
unique
>to Sev (regardless of which concoction he uses) rather than=20
characteristic
>of the autarch's drug. If I had to guess I would say that the difference
>between the drugs is that *for a normal person* the memories gained from=20
the
>alzabo fade quickly and are lost, whereas the autarchs must retain more=20
of
>them and on more of a permanent basis. With Sev this difference doesn't=20
seem
>to be so large.

I can't recall any clue that suggests Sev's experience with autarchical=20
inheritance was different from his predecessors - and he has his=20
predecessors memories for guidance and comparison.

The other occasion when Sev eats of Thecla he (and we) have the warning=20
that sharing those whom one knew well and were emotionally tied to already=20
had dangers.  Did not Thea avoid the experince for this reason?

Matthew

--=20

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