(urth) Father Inire as Dionysus

[Sergei SOLOVIEV]

Lee, you comment something I didn't say. I didn't
discuss whether an alien can or can not have human emotions. I said that 
in the BoTNS
and UoTNS
( in the text!) no discernible human emotions are attributed to the 
personages who are presented
as aliens - first of all, Ossipago, Barbatus ... (who are "explicitly" 
presented as aliens),
but also to sea monsters, to walking statues, to Cumaean - and to Inire, 
and Tzadkiel -
(in its version of Zak as well) - and Apheta -

To the contrary, the emotions of Hethor are aplenty, easily placed by 
Severian
(and easily met in real life), the same in case of boatman and even 
Fechin (through
the story of Casdoe's father). Jonas is a "chem", so, in the context of 
Wolfe's
books, also rather human.

This difference (based on the text, not on our own ideas about aliens) 
may be used as argument against the theories trying to identify Inire 
with others.

(continued below)

Lee Berman wrote:
>> Sergei Soloviev: I think it is mentioned several times in BoTNS that FI is an 
>> alien. 
>>     
>  
> Oh, that actually makes me kind of sad. If robots (not just Jonas but also Sidero)
> can have human emotions, why can't aliens? Especially, as some have suggested,
> these aliens are evolved forms of humans who went out into space many millennia
> ago.
>  
>   
>> Of course you need not trust there "rumours" inside the book.
>>     
>  
> Can't you? Remember these are not really "rumours" just as the dreams in Wolfe's
> books are not really dreams. They are consciously created story elements with a 
> purpose.
>   
>   
It was ironic.

>> Each time we meet Hethor his character is immediately recognizable.
>>     
>  
> I think it is important to remember that in all the appearances of Hethor 
> (save one) he is fawning and sycophantic toward Severian, wishing to serve him
> and calling him Master. He seems especially adoring of Severian's torturer skills.
> (the only exception is toward the end of CotA in his final appearance where he
> simply appears clutching Agia's breasts). I think there is a lot more to this 
> Hethor character than you are giving him credit for.
>  
> Perhaps we should remember that Tzadkiel claims that he was, in a previous creation,
> an acolyte of Severian's. Doesn't that suggest that we should be able to spot
> Tzadkiel as a worshipper of Severian earlier in the story?  Or later if he is an
> acolyte of Severian as Conciliator. Actually, I think he can be found in both places.
>  
> Was it Ryan who asked, "how deep does this rabbit hole really go?"
>  
>   
All the appearances of Hethor - fawning combined with sadism - it is a 
psychological
(or psychopathic) type existing in real life. Many pages of Wolfe can be 
easily
considered as a part of a realistic story. Trying to identify him with 
an alien reduces
his interest as a human type. For me, the Wolfe's story is very rich and 
interesting
also by its diversity. Diversity of human types as opposed to diversity 
of aliens, monsters etc.
The theories I don't like reduce this diversity. Your theories become 
richer - but the story
poorer. Just so.

By the way, the "old name" corresponding to Hethor I think is just "Hector".
I.e. - reference to Earth and its culture.

Sergei

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