Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 18:46:17 -0800
Subject: Re: FW: (urth) Typhon, Sev, Silk
From: Lisa Schaffer-Doggett 

   -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan'l Danehy-Oakes 
> To: Roy C. Lackey 
> Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 2:49 PM
> Subject: FW: (urth) Typhon, Sev, Silk


Don (not Lisa) writes:
First off, sorry for the double posts, I don't know what's going on 
with that.

>
>
> Hi.
>
> Currently unable to post because of address stupidity, so replying
> in person. If you feel like responding to any of this on list feel
> free.
>
> First a "bravo!" to your main thesis -- Sev as Typhon's son simply does
> not work for precisely the thematic reasons you put forth.

I don't know what thematic reasons Roy put forth, but IMO there are 
plenty of thematic reasons for Sev to be Typhon's son.  Aside from the 
Hidden King theme, which occurs at least twice, thrice if you count KJ, 
there is the Campbellian archetype of the Hero meeting his father who 
is unknown (?) to him (Darth Typhon), and there is the Gravesian 
Zeus/Cronos seasonal sun king relationship that would be between the 
two if they are son and father.  In addition (and I realize this is 
somewhat circular) if Silk is Typhon (arguable) or possibly more likely 
a close blood relation of Typhon, this is a plausible and thematically 
satisfying reason for Silk and Sev to be brought together in Return to 
the Whorl.

> (I also
> wrote,
> but could not post, a note on the question of just where Don believes
> all these clones are coming from -- Silk-as-a-clone-of-Typhon is of
> course an exception to this question -- but where are all these,
> apparently
> fresh and viable, clones of Ymar coming from, a chiliad later, and how
> did they get growed, e.g., who put the one that grew into Severian into
> Katherine's belly? Etc.)
>

These fresh and viable clones would be easy to come by via the 
corridors of time.  The woman in Jonas' story came from the stars.  If 
Ymar's journey to Yesod was anything like Sev's he did a fair share of 
time travel himself.  The embryo's came from Yesod as a part of the 
Hiero's   manipulation.  My theory is that they spread the seeds far 
and wide, possibly across every generation.  I knew this would be a 
hard sell, but I am firmly convinced of its correctness.  I am glad at 
least that you see my reasoning regarding Silk, whether you agree with 
it completely or not.  I would add in reply to Roy that Typhon being 
the baddest man in the galaxy actually furthers my thematic argument of 
his redemption.  Silk is arguably one of the best men in the galaxy.  
If they are the same person then, in addition to it being highly ironic 
(almost reason enough on its own), it is also the ultimate expression 
of the power and the Grace (in the theological sense) of the Outsider.  
Compare that to the ham fisted approach of the hiero's in dealing with 
the situation.

Another thing, I believe that the reason that Typhon did not use the 
"possession" technology in order to change bodies has two 
possibilities.  First, there was no way for him to bring a clone 
quickly to age.  (Inire could possibly do this with the khaibits, but 
there is no indication that Typhon could).  Another is that he planned 
on using Silk as a puppet.  Pas, after all is a program and most likely 
Typhon had the ability to override it.  Pas, possesses Silk and acts as 
a proxy for the Monarch until he establishes contact.  Remember, Typhon 
was beginning to believe he might never die.  Besides, Typhon is most 
likely more complex than Pas, so it would be an incomplete transfer.



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