From: maa32 <maa32@dana.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: (whorl) why the problem with astral travel?
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 08:53:29 

I really don't see why some are so distraught over Wolfe's use of a really big 
Godling or astral travel.  Severian's relationship with the new sun seems 
equally mysterious.  How can a man freely travel back and forth in time just 
because he has some affinity with a star?  without mechanical "SF" 
enhancement, how does Wolfe really explain Severian's connection?  How about 
silk's auto-resurrection at the end of Calde of the Long Sun?  I really don't 
think that access to the corridor of time is any different than travelling 
through space with a mental projection.  The sorceror in Sword of the Lictor 
is clearly a psionicist.  Is his mental fortitude any different than magic or 
astral projection?  Does a device or genetic alteration allow him to use his 
mental powers?  I don't think so.  According to A.D. + D., astral projection 
is a well established psionic ability, as is conjunction with another mind.  
The godlings might very well be mechanical.  who cares?



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