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Andrew Bollen · 14 Jul 2003, 02:51 · from urth-v0307.mbox · original

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From: "Andrew Bollen" <abollen at internode.on.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 12:51:32 +1000
Message-ID: <urth-v0307-3670 at digest.urth.net>
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> Crush responds:
> As a believer that the discrepancies are intentional, I see their
triviality
> as exemplary of Wolfe's subtlety in dealing with an unreliable narrator.
If
> the discrepancies had been of weight, then they would have looked to be
most
> likely intentional on Severian's part -- i.e. *lies". Since they are
> trivial, they can only be errors in memory (assuming they aren't typos).

Fair point. But the Marble/Mint error you mention IMO supports my position.
That was the same kind of thing as Roy raised - Drotte-Roche etc - and
arguably bigger, since Drotte & Roche were less significant characters than
the Mayteras. As you say, the best way to resolve it would be if GW were to
comment, but going by history, some people might just assume he's being
enigmatic or prevaricating, no matter what he says :).

Also - what would be the narrative point of Sev having a false belief in his
own perfect memory? If the intention were to cast ambiguity over everything
he says, then it seems too weak to have only examples of fairly trivial
recollection errors - does it matter to the story if he actually doesn't
have perfect memory for detail; would it really cast doubt on his account of
larger things? I'd expect there to be at least one substantial example, even
if it were Wolfishly hidden & scattered in 5 holographic parts over 3
volumes.

Maybe there is!

--=20

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