(urth) Faterh Inire Theory

[Gerry Quinn]

From: "Lee Berman" <severiansola at hotmail.com>
>
>>Adam Thornton-  One suspects that this has been the fate of many 
>>monarchical buildings converted to
>>bureaucratic workplaces as the Type Of Government clanked along its chain, 
>>in our time.  I think
>>it is likely that Jonas, as the representative of Near Future [Ea|U]rth is 
>>more familiar with Cubeville
>>than is Severian.The room's just a waiting room in bland government 
>>offices, complete with cookies and
>>coffee urn.  It's just that the wait times have become generational; 
>>indeed, eternal.
>
> Heh. This resonates with me also. In writing BotNS I think Gene Wolfe was 
> still working either as an
> engineer or as an engineering journal editor. This scene could partially 
> be his version of "Dilbert"
> or "Office Space". I'm pretty sure WOlfe includes in-jokes in his work 
> that only his close family and
> friends could really understand. Perhaps co-workers also.

I have always thought that the horridly artificial plastic oranges in 
_Peace_ were a reflection of the ghastly mass-produced 'Pringles'.  Wolfe 
reportedly developed the machine that cooks them.  Perhaps they are the true 
crime for which Weer must atone.

But then again, I hate Pringles, so this may be too personalised a reading.

- Gerry Quinn