(urth) AEG: a Wolder on Earth

[Dave Tallman]

Roy C. Lackey wrote:
> Naturally I agree with Dave T. that Rian's mother was Bill's first wife. But
> I think David D. is right about the rich yacht owner being Rian's mother. It
> makes perfect sense that Bill's first wife was rich, and she has to be
> someone of importance or she wouldn't be listed in the cast of characters.
> She was a former beauty, which fits Reis' known predilection for the type.
> And wealthy men are often known to dump trophy wives when they start to lose
> their shine. She showed broken Cassie her motherly instinct, which is in
> consonance with a mother who had cared for a sickly child.
>   
You may have something here. The "comforted her like a mother" is very 
telling. It bothers me that Pavlatos seems like a Greek name and Rian is 
Irish/Gaelic, but the "Madame" suggests a remarriage, like Jackie 
Kennedy to Aristotle Onassis (note the yacht connection).

I'm not completely giving up on Norma, however. If she's not the first 
wife she may be the second. Sharon had to learn of Rian from someone, 
and Reis would have told his second wife about him, just as he told Cassie.

> Dave meant Kingsport, not Springfield. The name of the city is mentioned
> several times in the text, including the "Cast" list at the end.
>   
I did indeed mean Kingsport, thanks.