Juturna

One support for Jeff Wilson's idea that Juturna is Severian's sister could be their shared pale white skin. In my view, another would be their bizarre sexual attraction for each other, since I suspect Severian's family is so cursed to feel that way about each other. This story is full of liars but I tend to believe Juturna when she describes Abaia as her (and her sisters') "father-husband". If there is any correspondence between the undines and the Corn Maidens of the Naviscaput story, we may believe the undines aren't really very loyal to their incestuous father, Abaia and might lean toward Severian and the New Sun. If Severian is Juturna's brother, is he to be considered a son of Abaia? I think the most plausible scenario within that theory would be for Juturna and her sisters and Severian to all be pinched off versions of Abaia. It would explain (for me) why there are 5 coffins in Severian's mausoleum, two opened. The first opened would be Severian 1 (Reechy?) and our Severian the second. The other three go unused. I think a real hurdle for this theory to overcome could be Idas. She is so tall as a child it implies that undines are large by nature, not as a result of being sea-dwelling. If siblings why would Juturna be so big and Severian normal sized? Also, if undines were pinched off we would think they could be of any size. But Severian's encounters with Juturna and Idas also suggests that undines are extremely large by nature, not subject to choice. -bsharp _________________________________________________________________ Making the world a better place one message at a time. http://www.imtalkathon.com/?source=EML_WLH_Talkathon_BetterPlace

uncanny attraction between long-lost siblings is fairly common in literature and not unknown in RL

This could be a habit of speaking for an adopted sister. It may also be that Jut and Sev are half-siblings rather than full.

Unlikely, or he wouldn't be at a disadvantage underwater even the first time.

It's part of the longevity-by-growth theme. Many sea creatures live and grow for an indefinite period; lobsters, for instance, grow about 1 lb a year and have been found up to a couple hundred pounds. Baldanders redsiscovered this principle and ended up joining the undines under the water because his weight became prohibitive. There is also the property of aquatic life to limit their growth according to the size of the habitat. So...Idas live underwater, growing taller than a man by the time she has noticeable breasts, and then is sent onto The Ship. Juturna is larger because she's been living underwater longer. Merryn, an undine changeling many generations descended from the corn maidens is brought up on land and is stunted because of it, but still has the youthful face from undine longevity.

Forgive me for interrupting: Who is Juturna? Jolenta keeps popping into my head. All of GW's characters have excellent names and are easy to remember/characterize but this one eludes me. (I just read the 5 New Sun books for the first time and I am embarrassed to say I can't remember and I'm not with my books at the moment.) Thanks! Anthony (another new BotNS fanatic)

Ah, I've just realized it. Juturna saved Sev.