(urth) Ships

[Lee Berman]

>Andrew Mason: Of one family of current occupants. (I've seen it said quite frequently 
>that he is the ancestor of all the current occupants, but I've never seen why. Jonas 
>specifically refers to a particular family, whose members he lists, who occupy an alcove 
>of their own.)
 
Gene Wolfe spent the decade before writing BotNS watching silly US TV shows with his kids
as my parents did with me. The impact of 60's TV shows cannot be underestimated. I've 
previously identified Jolenta as modeled after Ginger from Gilligan's Island.
 
A classic book was converted to a classic movie in 1960- Swiss Family Robinson. This story 
in turn was converted to a cheesy, low-budget SF tv show called Lost In Space, featuring the
Robinson Family, the nefarious, conniving Dr. Smith and their noble Robot servitor (Warning!
Warning! Danger Will Robinson!).
 
It is quite apparent that Hethor has been avoiding Jonas since their first meeting. He hides
in the tunnel through the Wall of Nessus, avoids him on the path to the House Absolute and avoids 
him in the antechamber.  As a Dr. Smith analog, Hethor does not want to be recognized by his 
shipmate, the Robot-analog Jonas.
 
;- )