(urth) Lives of the Great Beasts

[Jeff Wilson]

On 7/2/2010 1:38 PM, Jonathan Goodwin wrote:
> There was some discussion on the list recently, or at least I think
> there was, about the origins and nature of Abaia, Erebus, and the
> rest. I've just read the books again recently and had some questions I
> wanted to ask the list.
>
> The narrative function of the megatherians is quite clear, I think.
> The literary and mythological antecedents are also reasonably clear.
> What is not clear to me, however, is just what Wolfe had in mind about
> their nature, their arrival on Earth, or their motivation (though
> there's more evidence for this last than the others).

I don't think these are the same megatherians as the eponymous seventeen 
black magicians. Though some of the seventeen were doubtlessly in league 
with the mountain-sized crew, and I'd have to guess that they symbolize 
opportunist forces who bodily intrude where camel's nose, mortal sig, 
went before.

-- 
Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
IEEE Student Chapter Blog at
< http://ieeetamut.org >