A few random thoughts after lurking

john pirker · 22 Jan 2000, 09:13 · from whorl-v0010.mbox · original

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From: "john pirker" <pirker at 365gay.com>
Subject: (whorl) A few random thoughts after lurking
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 09:13:13
Message-ID: <whorl-v0010-0242 at digest.urth.net>
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uh,hi.  After lurking for a while I thought I'd raise a few points/question=
s and then slink off.

The "Is Blue Ushas?" Issue:  I also had this vague idea that Blue might be =
Ushas but that's all it is: a vague idea.  If Blue is Urth after the coming=
 of the New Sun where is everyone? If someone said "I'll bring the New Sun =
and restore the world.  Oh, by the way it'll kill everyone", I'd be a bit l=
eery. Of course, the Neighbours could be the survivors, but I doubt it.  Or=
 Ushas is (re)populated by returning starships and that's the whole point o=
f The Book of the Short Sun.  As with most of my (muddled) thoughts I'll ha=
ve to wait for the whole picture (and even then not likely get it until the=
 second or third time through).  Blue may be Ushas, but somehow I hope not.

"Who or what is Quadrifons?" Question: There was a bit of speculation way b=
ack about what Quadrifons is (will be?). At the same time I was wondering a=
bout the whole Blue/Ushas thing, I wondered whether there was a tie between=
 Quadrifons and Ushas.  I thought about the known survivors of the coming o=
f the New Sun and what they came to be.  Specifically, does Severian + Odil=
o + Pega + Thais =3D Quadrifons?  They became the gods for the inhabitants =
of Ushas.  There are four of them.  And, we have been told, Severian will s=
how up in the series.  Just a thought.

The Narrator Question: As to the discussions about just who is telling the =
story, I can't seem to get the editorial breaches into the story out of my =
mind.  They disturb me.  I wonder whether there is more than one manuscript=
 here.  If the Rajan (whether he be Horn, or Silk, or Horn in Silk's body o=
r Silk in Horn's body or whatever)makes it home why not just start over and=
 tell the story beginning to end in a logical fashion (I mean, apart from w=
anting to keep us guessing)?  I wonder whether Hoof, Hide, Daisy and Vadsig=
 are assembling the Book of the Short Sun from fragments they've received f=
rom all over (the Book as a literary equilvalent of Elvis sightings).  Perh=
aps they've received the Rajan's journal plus some writings Horn made at so=
me point along his journey (he did pack paper for his journey for both its =
trading potential and to document his trip.  Who's to say he'll never get a=
nymore between the time he left Blue and returned) plus ... well, who knows=
?  As I've said !
!
!
before I've gotta wait till the rest of the story comes out.

Mucor's possession abilities:  Alex asked whether Mucor can only possess hu=
mans.  I had the impression that she could possess her lynxes.  I could wel=
l be mistaken.  I've got no evidence at my fingertips and don't have the ti=
me at the moment to go sifting through the book to find it.  Did anyone els=
e have this impression?

I'm looking forward to hearing other peoples thoughts.  ciao

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