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JISMULKSTIS · 10 Mar 2001, 13:48 · from whorl-v0012.mbox · original

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From: JISMULKSTIS at att.net
Subject: (whorl)
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 13:48:59 +0000
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I'm a long-time reader (all of Urth & Whorl archives,=20
Long/New/Short Sun multiple times) and have posted once=20
before.  I'd like to make a few observations:

Re Catholics:

I was raised Catholic, but have been a Militant Agnostic=20
since I was 13 in 1967.  You don't have to be a believer=20
to appreciate the power and resonance of Mr. Wolfe's use=20
of mythology, even current mythology to which he=20
subscribes.

I found the definition in the newsgroup=20
rec.arts.sf.written (I think):

An Agnostic says:

"I don't know whether or not there's a God.".

A Militant Agnostic says:

"I don't know whether or not there's a God.  And neither=20
do you."

Thoughts on Short Sun:

I liked it, overall, but I think some of the criticisms=20
posted here are valid.  Specifically, did the exposition=20
have to be so damn oblique that many of the very=20
knowledgeable people here disagree about what happened?

Were Silk's injuries caused by an attempted suicide or a=20
fight?  Both viewpoints have been argued here and I'm=20
still not sure which I believe.  I prefer a fight, since=20
I just don't see sufficient motivation for Silk to=20
attempt suicide.  He seems more aware than that.

I also agree with those who deplored the fractured=20
locution of Wijzer, Olivine, etc.  It began to wear thin=20
after a while.  Especially Olivine. =20

There was some discussion here of what was meant=20
by "There is another possibility, which I am loathe to=20
mention" but no one suggested anything other than the =20
"Silk as inhumu" theory, which I don't buy.  Wouldn't=20
that mean that Silk hatched from an egg?  Nah.

At the same time, that line just BEGS for some analysis=20
and speculation.  I can picture the smile on Gene's face=20
when he wrote that. =20

I'm sure it means something, but I don't know what.  Any=20
ideas?  You people are really good at this.

Quick question:  Does anyone know who originated the=20
saying "The more I know people, the more I like=20
animals."?  I personally couldn't agree more...

Muskrat

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