Wolfe's Answer re Torturers' Guild

Michael Straight · 17 Jun 1997, 09:47 · from whorl-v0006.mbox · original

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From: Michael Straight <straight at email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: (whorl) Wolfe's Answer re Torturers' Guild
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 09:47:40
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[Posted from WHORL, the mailing list for Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun]



On Mon, 16 Jun 1997, Wesley Parsons wrote:

> <<14. "Is there a member (current, former, or future) of the Order of
> Seekers for Truth and Penitence on the Whorl?"  I'm going to
> interpret this question in the broadest possible sense, since that
> seems to be what Parsons wants.  Yes, there is.  It is Silk.>>
>=20
> It's been suggested that Wolfe is slyly pointing out that Silk is indeed a
> "seeker for truth and penitence," and Wolfe's answer has no more
> meaning than that.  I would respectfully disagree. it.  Wolfe rarely
> emphasizes key information in his writing, but he is always, within the
> logic of the narrative, accurate.  Believe what he says.  The Order of
> Seekers for Truth and Penitence (capitalized as a proper noun) is a
> specific organization.  Silk is a member.  Either Silk is (or has been/wi=
ll be)
> a torturer.  Severian has to be the best candidate.

Or maybe...

"All men are torturers." - Severian

-Rostrum

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