Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 10:07:09 -0500
From: "Charles Reed" 
Subject: Re: (urth) Two Silk questions

Andrew Bollen wrote:

> Two questions which bug me about SIlk, and for which I don't see any
> clear answers or developed theories in the archives: (1) His "other"
> parents. At some point Silk has a vision which includes two sets of
> parents (memory hazy on details). We know who his "host" parents are;
> what about the others? Is there anything which gives us a hint?

Since his "other" parents -- being the ones biologically responsible for
at least most of his DNA -- would have lived or at least had viable DNA
during Typhon's reign (300+ years ago Whorl-time-frame, 1000-2000+ years
ago Urth-time-frame) I'd have to conclude that there's no indication who
those people were unless they are members of the "royal family."  We
just don't know of any other people from era that I'm aware of.  It's
actually pretty intriguing to think of Silk as a son of Typhon, but I'm
not sure there's any textual evidence to support such an idea.

>  (2) In a response to questions a while back, Wolfe says that Silk, in
> some broad sense, is a member of the guild of torturers (under
> whatever their official name is). Also, there is some kind of hint to
> the effect that Silk makes some kind of appearance in the events of
> the Book of the New Sun. How are these rather gnomic intimations to be
> interpreted?

See http://urth.net/whorl/archives/v0006/0350.shtml for the exact
question and response.

I believe that when GW identified Silk "in the broadest possible sense"
as a "member (current, former, or future) of the Order of Seekers for
Truth and Penitence" that he is simply saying that Silk is a true seeker
of truth and penitence.  Nothing more.

And there's not really any interpretation necessary to the appearance of
Silk/Horn in the Book of the New Sun.  Have you finished RETURN TO THE
WHORL yet?  If not, then I don't want to spoil anything by telling you
about it.

Charles



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