Did the Library Survive?

Chris · 11 Jul 2003, 18:33 · from urth-v0307.mbox · original

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From: "Chris" <rasputin_ at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Did the Library Survive?
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 18:33:47 +0000
Message-ID: <urth-v0307-3659 at digest.urth.net>
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That's what I meant by the "philosophical" argument for the Library's=20
survival. It's hard to say, given the nature of the Library, whether he eve=
r=20
expected it to be read at all - when you place one book among an infinite=20
number of other books it's not much different from launching it off into=20
space/the corridors of time. I feel that perhaps either Wolfe (or Severian =
-=20
his subtlety as a writer is perhaps underrated when one considers him simpl=
y=20
a dissembler) is here giving a nod to the leap of faith every writer takes=20
when writing a book. It is a sentimental thing suited to the end of such a=20
work, a symbolic ritual of release where the author frees his creation with=20
no way of knowing if his meaning will ever come home in a reader, or where=20
it may go that he never intended.

It is probably also notable that Severian literally saves himself by this=20
act of release, in the continuation of his journey that is UotNS.

Nutria's comment about heaven and earth rings a bell, but though I spent=20
some time hunting for a reference I was unable to come up with one. I could=20
swear I recall having read somewhere that, in completion of his act of=20
creation, God placed the Torah in the heavens and in the earth. Of course,=20
it is not presented in quite as literal a sense as this, but who's to say=20
that Severian is being purely literal either.

Civet

>It's been assumed that the Ushas Flood destroyed the Library, but I wonder=
.=20
>As Don noted, it's Borges's library, and is transcendental. Also, it's=20
>physically protected, arguably, being underground.
>         Sev. put one copy of his book there. I think this was for the=20
>Ushas generations to read, not for his own to read. I think he assumed tha=
t=20
>the Library (symbolically in another way the Bible, or Bible of Bibles)=20
>would survive.
>         Sev. put the other copy in the heavens. Wolfe seems to be doing=20
>something here, beyond explaining how he got his copy to translate. The=20
>same book in heaven and on earth? Or what?
>         What think ye?
>
>Nutria
>
>
>--

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