(urth) Merger

[Jordon Flato]

Isn't there a difference in what happens to the 'memories' or 'identities'
in Severian as opposed to everyone else, including the Alzabo?  Sev has the
power to restore life.  I've always been fairly certain that for Severian,
the people he brings into himself are more alive, in a real way, than for
any previous Autarch, or certainly and Vodellarii or ingesters of the
alembic.  Perhaps this plays a role in why Severian succeeds when Appian
fails.  Severian doesn't just have the memories of past lives in him, I
think they are really alive in him in a fundamental way, which is new,
unique, and unseen in any other instance of ingestion of the Alembic.



On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 10:50 AM, Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> From Merriam-Webster (with apologies to OED preferers, but this one is free
> online)
>
> >a : the act or process of merging
>
> >b : absorption by a corporation of one or more others; also : any of
> various methods of
> >combining two or more organizations
>
> Perhaps we can agree this definition fits what happens with the alzabo
> rather nicely?
>
>
> I think Dan'l's concern is over the temporary/permanent nature of the
> merger. If we go by
> what seems to happen with Vodalus' banquet we might think the merger is
> temporary perhaps
> with only minor vestiges remaining.
>
> Still, as Severian does combat with the alzabo they have a conversation on
> strategy which would seem to go beyond both Becan's and Severa's
> ressources. (yes, Becan
> was a hunter, but my impression is that the battle savvy goes beyond this).
> I get the
> sense the alzabo has acquired a library of stored memories to draw upon,
> including a trained
> soldier or assassin or something.
>
> This is paralleled with Severian in UotNS I think. He is no longer plagued
> by spontaneous
> takeovers by Thecla but I guess she is still there, just unneeded. The old
> Autarch pops up
> once, but only at the appropriate time and need.
>
> I think the idea of a merger is pretty appropriate, a la Daimler-Chrysler.
> The larger company
> took over the smaller one. There is a new merged identity though if there
> is confict the majority
> partner tends to have the merged corporation serve its needs above the
> minority partner.
> Thus Becan is willing to let his family suffer pain, since the alzabo
> requires it. But, as
> others noted, the alzabo is also willing to risk a lot to protect
> his/Becan/Severa's next
> meal/family.
>
> (So how does this relate to Procter & Gamble? Did this corporation force
> Gene Wolfe and his
> family move from somewhere nice to the hellish outer urban areas of
> Chicago? [sorry Ryan ;- )].
>
> It is pretty easy to see how the Autarchy and New Sun status of
> Severian/Thecla/old Autarch
> serves the needs of all three (throw Ymar in there if you like).
>
> So, how does the merger of Horn/Silk/Neighbor do that?  (Neighbor for
> James, though I like the
> idea also).
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