(urth) FW: size of erebus, et al.

[b sharp]

>
>
> marc aramini says:
>
>>I always thought the retconned story of Theseus and the novascaputs with the
>>enormous sea ship was indicative of the size of the monsters like abaia. the
>>student's creation must face that enormous sea creature that dyes the ship.
>>Those stories always seemed to reflect both thematically and factually to Severian
>>'s main narative.

Though it is a mangled legend, I agree, keeping in mind that it is a naviscaput= ship
 head monster, the big ship being only the tip of the "iceberg". I always assumed the
 rest of his body extended down to the ocean floor, his "feet" roiling the benthos as
 he walked. Seems plausible his entire size could be somewhat akin to a mountain's.
 
I also find numerous hints in the text that the coming of the new sun will, in fact, rid
Urth/Ushas of such monstrosities/megatherians. I just found another subtle one during
a recent re-reading:
 
 In his conversation with Master Ash, Severian is made to understand that the Ascians
 are currently engaged in a desperate, frantic attempt to gain a quick military advantage.
 The reason for the desperate need is left sounding important but unexplained. I think it
 may be that Erebus and Abaia are somehow aware that the autarchy is about to be
 passed on to a likely New Sun bringer and they hope to stop it.
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