stew

maa32 · 21 Aug 2003, 17:28 · from urth-v0308.mbox · original

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From: maa32 <maa32 at dana.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: (urth) stew
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 10:28:39 -0700
Message-ID: <urth-v0308-3977 at digest.urth.net>
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Well, there ARE a few important details about food in New Sun.  The=20
pomegranate that drips from the eater's mouth, and Dr. Talos' lack of apeti=
te,=20
etc.  Meals are important in Wolfe, but what they eat is not necessarily=20
emphasized EXCEPT in Long Sun for those stupid tomatoes that Silk and Mayte=
ra=20
Rose have a disgusting battle of wills over. I've always thought that that=20
scene was far more important than I understood ... why else would we talk=20
about slices of food forever?

Also, it is important that Silk from Book of the Short Sun never eats and g=
ets=20
sick in winter.  So, yes, I think it is worthwhile to pay attention to the=20
meals in Wolfe books, but I spend countless pages skimming over the banquet=20
scenes in other fantasy books.  Who cares what they ate if I can't learn=20
anything from it? (Unless it's weird, orginal food, like in Jack Vance's "T=
he=20
Face") Can Severian use the Claw to eliminate his excrement if someone is=20
following him? Are fantasy people immune from parasites when they pee in a=20
stream? Does Robinson Crusoe have any sexual urges while he's trapped on th=
e=20
island?  Some things are better left unexplored in a fantasy world ... I=20
think.

Marc Aramini

--=20

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