Previous universe, was Re: Increate on trial

David Kirby · 31 Mar 2005, 09:23 · from 2005-March.txt.gz

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From: dbkirby at pressroom.com (David Kirby)
Date: Thu Mar 31 09:23:02 2005
Subject: (urth) Previous universe, was Re:  Increate on trial
In-Reply-To: <BE70DA35.4C6D3%adamsteph at earthlink.net>
References: <BE70DA35.4C6D3%adamsteph at earthlink.net>
Message-ID: <424C3134.8020607 at pressroom.com>

Adam Stephanides wrote:

> (Incidentally, I don't like the idea that the Sun cycle takes place in a
> previous universe either -- I'd like to believe that it was something Wolfe
> dreamed up after the fact, so I could reject it with a clear conscience --
> but since Wolfe did say it, I feel I have to take it into account.)

I've never understood the fascination with the "previous universe" 
theory, no matter what Wolfe said after writing the books. Surely the 
text of the books trumps post-book statements, and we're all familiar 
with "G.W."'s appendix, "A Note on the Translation," at the end of SHADOW:

       > To those who have preceded me in the study of the post-
       > historic world, and particularly to those collectors --
       > too numerous to name here -- who have permitted me to
       > examine artifacts surviving so many centuries of futurity,
       > and most especially to those who have allowed me to visit
       > and photograph the era's few extant buildings, I am
       > grateful.

There is no question that the Urth Cycle, "originally composed in a 
tongue that has not yet achieved existence," chronicles the future.

       -- David

-- 
==============================================================
"It is possible I already had some presentiment of my future."
== Gene Wolfe, Shadow of the Torturer
                          David B. Kirby, dbkirby at pressroom.com
==============================================================

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