(urth) Typhon's nature

[David Stockhoff]

On 10/15/2011 6:23 AM, Gerry Quinn wrote:
> *From:* David Stockhoff <mailto:dstockhoff at verizon.net>
> On 10/14/2011 6:15 PM, Gerry Quinn wrote:
> > >
> > > *From:* David Stockhoff <mailto:dstockhoff at verizon.net>
> > > > > On the other hand, Typhon would have known of the dangers of
> > > > > inbreeding, and it also seems that he didn’t much like the idea of
> > > > > genetically engineering his offspring.
> > > >
> > > > Why do you think this?
> > > Because he had access to the technology, and he didn’t use it.
> > How do you know this?
> Surely these things are obvious? We know he had the technology, 
> because the Whorl is loaded with it. It seems obvious that a 
> technology that can produce Mucor or a psychic internet can prevent, 
> say, the blindness of Tartarus, who seems otherwise sound. So Typhon 
> must have chosen not to use it.
Thank you for a concrete example! But he didn't give Tartarus mechanical 
eyes either. Did he also not like cyborging them? Or is something else 
going on?
>
> > > > > So it would be remarkable if he married his sister. Duke Rigoglio
> > > > > doesn’t mention anything unusual about his marriage – you’d think
> > > such
> > > > > a thing would be remarked upon.
> > > >
> > > > WE would. Would anyone on Urth?
> > > In Severian’s time, people certainly would.
> > How do you know?
> ***************************************************
> When I re-entered the cell, Agilus was sitting cross-legged, his back 
> propped by the wall. "Don't ask me about Agia," be said. "Everything 
> you suspect is true--is that enough? I will be dead tomorrow, and she 
> will wed the old man who dotes on her, or someone else. I wanted her 
> to do it sooner. He couldn't have prevented her from seeing me, her 
> brother. Now I will be gone, and she won't have even that to worry about."
> ***************************************************
> Clearly incest is not the norm in Severian’s time.
>
No one, and I mean NO ONE, has suggested that incest is "the norm" 
anywhere, ever. At all. You do your own arguments no service when you 
twist others' arguments into nonrecognition before denying them.

The rulers of ancient Egypt committed incest almost by definition. Do 
you really think it was "remarked upon" by Egyptians?

It has been suggested that "sacred" incest is a motif in the Sun books. 
It has been explained why that might be the case. And it has nothing to 
do with Margaret Meade. Are you interested at all?


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