From: Jim Jordan <jbjordan@gnt.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) Juturna's Backstroke (long again)
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 14:24:47 

At 10:19 AM 10/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
>
>One problem with the Sev's skull theory I advanced is that it assumes a
>copying of Sev a la the Tzadkiel/hierodule "writing in the sand" style of
>resurrection.  However, we know that when Sev performs miracles via the
>power of the New Sun, he does so by a different method -- direct
>reconstitution of the dead -- a literal re-animation (returning the anima).
>Since we have no reason to believe that the undines can resurrect, and there
>are no obvious heirodules about, there is a problem there. (of course, there
>is no generic problem with Sev performing miracles at this time -- he brings
>Triskele back).

	It's been my assumption that Severian simply cannot be killed, and brings
himself back to life, so to speak -- cannot be killed at this pre-New Sun
point in his life anyway. But maybe that's not correct. Obviously this is a
baptismal scene, and perhaps it is the Outsider (or Increate) who does
this, since the entire redemptive scenario is His doing, ultimately. 
	Such a construction would fit with Wolfean beliefs, but is it actually
what is intended here? Perhaps, is we let the Silk narrative inform the
Severian narrative a bit. Wolfe is interested not only in how Severian came
to the throne (which is Severian's interest), but how Severian begins to
outgrow a horrible background and upbringing, becoming a (somewhat) better
man. One would expect some kind of religious experience to be the point at
which that growth is initiated. 
	Of course, where this is pretty obvious in the Silk narrative, it is way
in the background of Severian's. The Increate, or Pancreator, and the
Theoanthropos (Jesus Christ, only mentioned once) are not, in any obvious
way at least, directly interacting with Severian.
	I still suspect that we only have the first two parts of a Severian
trilogy, however, and that eventually there may be more to come. Wolfe has
explored politics (war, sovereignty) in the first four-fold part, and
ecology in the second. But his ultimate interest is in redemption,
understood in the broadest possible way. 
	Arguably, though, the Long Sun narrative is that "third part." 
	The Severian narrative would be Wolfe's "Old Testament," and the Silk
narrative, with Horn afterward, would be his "New Testament." God is way in
the background, working through numerous mediators, in the Severian
narrative; but He becomes an Actor in the Silk narrative. Remember that the
Noahic Flood did end one corrupt world, ruled by Mighty Men, and brought in
a new one, but not THE new one of the whole Bible narrative. 
	Consider that Jesus did his work in a tiny province within an empire that
covered only part of the globe. But what He set in motion gradually changes
the entire course of human civilization. (Whether some of us like this or
not is not at issue; Wolfe thinks so, and writes in terms of that belief.)
Suppose that Silk's work is destined to spread not only to all of the
Whorl, but also back to Urth as well....
	Just some grist for your mills.

Nutria

Nutria

Nutria


*More Wolfe info & archive of this list at http://www.urth.net/urth/