(urth) The Wizard

[Dan'l Danehy-Oakes]

Not to agree with Gerry or anything, but clearly the Christian
allusions are primary.

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 1:45 PM, Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Lee Berman
>
>
>> > James Wynn: The reference to "the son of Thyone", to "Silent Silk"
>> > and "Silver Silk"...
>
>> For me the reference to Silenus and Silvanus is similar
>> to the earlier "Bird Of the Woods" reference to Rhea Silvia.
>> The Latin name doesn't refer to a bird but I think we are supposed
>> to catch the connection.
>
> That reference is clear, strong and inescapable because the whole of the
> name is there, and because it’s targeted at one specific person, and because
> it matches numerous elements in the same short section which clearly refer
> to Romulus and Remus.  Also, IIRC, there is no other reason for her to be
> called Bird of the Woods.  And the etymological connection is at least
> partial.
>
> By contrast, the supposed reference of Silent and Silver Silk to Dionysus is
> based on just a few syllables, there is no etymological connection at all,
> the characters supposedly referenced are not Dionysus anyway, the section of
> the book is not devoted to Dionysus, and there’s a clear reason given for
> the epithets which has nothing to do with Dionysus.  [More interesting, IMO,
> is whether they relate to something sinister rather than an aspect of Silk’s
> character: is Silk silent because he likes to watch his flock, or has he
> become a new version of gasping Piatus?  I don’t think it is the latter,
> because I don’t see any other reason to suspect it.]
>
> The two instances have little in common, IMO.
>
>
>> One of the few areas James and I tend to disagree upon. A good argument by
>> James.   Perhaps it boils down to whether the Sun series takes place in
>> our
>> universe or in an alternate version sans Christ. I dunno. Perhaps Wolfe is
>> speaking to James and others in a Christian code I am not privy to. Or
>> perhaps the need for Christ is so strong for some he must be inserted,
>> even
>> when His absence seems so apparent (to me). Must one be the "right"
>> interpretation?
>
> Except that He’s right there; for example in the clear Palm Sunday
> reference, and the co-opted Sign of Addition.
>
> - Gerry Quinn
>
>
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-- 
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes