Pig & Nettle & Seawrack & Horn

Patrick O'Leary · 26 Feb 2001, 09:58 · from whorl-v0012.mbox · original

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From: "Patrick O'Leary" <poleary at cecom.com>
Subject: (whorl) Re: Pig & Nettle & Seawrack & Horn
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 09:58:23
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Pig as Godling:

Yes, the reference to "ears" and "claws" is probably the best  evidence I'v=
e seen.
Good fishing! Yet, for me, it still doesn't ring true. I guess I'd believe =
it if
I saw Pig fulfilling the function of a godling--for aren't they just clario=
ns
for the gods of mainframe? "Leave the Whorl!" or "Stay on The whorl!"
It's not a question of size. Yes, the text says they come in extra large an=
d large
sizes.
But compare the character/behavior of the one definitive godling that we kn=
ow
and the character of Pig--and I see a chasm unbridgeable by ears or size.
Can anyone help me with this?

Seawrack's and Nettle's motivation:

Perhaps it *is* somewhat mysterious why Nettle and Seawrack
choose to return to the whorl with Silk/Horn. But is it really so difficult=
 to
imagine
that they would want to remain as close as possible to whatever remnant of =
their
lover
they could cling to? And, really, who can resist Silk? Robert Borski's summ=
ary
of Seawrack's story really misses the point: Seawrack and Horn were in love.
As were Nettle and Horn. Still, the way I read the ending is: Silk will bec=
ome
Seawrack's mate. Remember the way Horn is haunted by the mermaid's song?
And how he sometimes substitutes/misnames "Hyacinth" for "Seawrack."

Horn Lives:

Ok, Horn does indeed exist somehow in Silk at the end. Alga's comment on
Wolfe's PC model of possession is very sound, I think. But I love the irony:
We think we've been reading a book written by Horn denying he is Silk.
And, really, it is a book written by Silk denying he is Silk.

The Trial in Dorp:

Very few comments about this episode. Any thoughts?

Patrick O'Leary

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