(urth) Boatman as Inire

Ryan Dunn ryan at liftingfaces.com
Sun Aug 8 20:40:22 PDT 2010


On Aug 8, 2010, at 11:31 PM, Lee Berman wrote:

>> Ryan Dunn: who might Gunnie/Burgundafora point back to? Anyone?
> 
> Do you have someone in mind? 
> 
> My best thought would be Agia.  She also was a female companion who 
> betrayed Severian. But they seem so different. Burgundofora meant 
> well but she lacked character and bravery. Agia was oozing with 
> character and bravery but she meant ill.

I mean two women who coexist at different ages, but are in fact the same person. And no, I don't have anyone in mind right now, but Dorcas and Valeria are potential candidates, having been messed with time-wise. I'm thinking if there is a connection back to BotNS, it would be a female. Jolenta is the waitress under a glamour spell, but Burgundofora and Gunnie attended the ships, which allowed time overlap.

Perhaps this situation has more to do with revealing what happens if there are more than one instance of a person in close proximity, and how that relates back to BotNS. Severian is close to Apu Punchau in UotNS, and for a moment in BotNS, and apparently comes out fine. Hildegrin not so much.


> Roy if I remember correctly you place a lot of stock in this exchange:
> 
>> Severian- "...the Cumaean, she was a Hierodule, like you. Father Inire told me."
>> Famulimus and Barbatus nodded.
> 
> I can't remember if I've mentioned my reservations. This exchange could mean that
> yes, Father Inire and The Cumaean are hierodules. Simple. End of story.
> 
> But I consider that perhaps Famulimus and Barbatus' nods only concur that this is 
> what Father Inire tells his Autarchs.

You do agree, though, that Inire is (to Severian's knowledge) definitely a cacogen, like the Cumaean?

...ryan


More information about the Urth mailing list