Severian the Memorious

Hmmm, perhaps a better list would be "Severian inconsistencies" since it's conceivable that they are not lies. I for one have always championed the example of the old Autarch's robe, described as yellow many times, but later described as saffron "as I had always seen him" (sorry I don't have the exact quotation, but its from CITADEL). Now admittedly saffron is a shade of yellow, so perhaps it's forgiveable, but given his constant reminders about his perfect memory, it certainly gives one pause. Of course the saffron robes themselves are significant, evoking buddha, etc. D

That's the thing. If he didn't go on about his perfect memory so much, we might cut him some slack. But as it is, if Severian is so perfect, what alternative do we have but to call him a liar? However, I rather like the idea of a narrator who tells us he's got a perfect memory, but who really doesn't. I remember on my first read thinking Severian's memory was just a cheap trick to justify a memoir having such great detail. Now I wonder if maybe his constantly going on about it might be an attempt to convince himself of his own perfection. And was his cloak really that dark? -Rostrum