(urth) Overthinking/Underthinking "The Fifth Head of Cerberus"

[Lee]

>Gerry Quinn: But The Old Wise One is NOT a Shadow Child.  He is not physical, 

>but created from the consciousness of the nearby Shadow Children and (as an 
>increasing proportion) Sandwalker.  It's very clear that the Shadow 
>Children are solid humanoid creatures (if they were not, they would 
>provide unsatisfying meals for the Marshmen), and that the Old Wise One 
>(whom Sandwalker first assumes to be a ghost, and who notes that once he 
>was sometimes called the Group Norm) is different.


An interesting theory. I like it! It does explain why the Old Wise One is 

intangible while the others can be eaten. I must wonder why Sandwalker would

start to be incorporated in this telepathic construct when he doesn't chew the 

weed, and isn't the same species as Shadow Children. I think Sandwalker's 

incorporation would be evidence that Abos and Shadow Children are of the

same original, telepathic species.


Then there is that name. "Shadow Children" too perfectly describes an origin

from shadowy, shapeless beings and in no way indicates a human origin. Given

the body of Wolfe's work, I find that names can be more important clues to the

solution of mysteries than pages and pages of text.


>And his confusion only starts as the Shadow Children are eliminated and 
>Sandwalker forms an increasing part of his consciousness


Is it increased confusion or increased clarity? We can't know for sure. We

are given two scenarios and a choice.