Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 21:17:32 -0500
From: James Jordan 
Subject: Re: (urth) stealing apu punchau


>Because I have a hard time envisioning the Claw as either a dumb object or
>as a mere "focus" for Severian's current/latent power, I tend to think
>(insist) that the Claw is the (hologramic, fragmentary; blood magic)
>presence of the "first Severian" that Severian is referring to in the
>passage: that is, the first Severian who, I believe we are told, did =not=
>possess the Claw.
>
>In this manner, by granting/denying miraculous powers at various junctures
>(revive this dead, fail to revive that one; cast a light now; etc.), the
>first Severian becomes, in part, author of the Severian we see.  Or
>semi-puppetmaster.
>
>=mantis=

I'm confused. (duh! who isn't in these books?)
         Earlier Sevs did not have the  power to come back to life and to 
grant resuscitation. Our Sev did, and I've assumed this is part of why he 
could pass the test and bring/be the New Sun. I've assumed that a part of 
the SF aspect of the books, the Heirowhatevers prepared him as this person.
         I also assumed that the Claw was a kind of sacrament of our Sev, 
extending his power, derived from him, and hence not from any previous Sev.
         I guess I'm not understanding what you wrote. I await . . . 
enlightenment.

Pat. Nut.


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