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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael also says something here that drives me
bonkers:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"</FONT>With the mysteries laid bare, it becomes
apparent that enough clues were provided for such major mysteries to be solved
in the original tetrology. That Severian would travel through time to become
both the Conciliator and Apu Punchau, rather than being a reincarnation, avatar,
or descendant. And that the world would drown with the coming of the New
Sun."</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well, yes, there are enough clues to have jumped to
those conclusions. All the reader had to do was to accurately identify the
jumping off points as such --while excluding the the non-jumping off points---
AND jump to the *correct* conclusion to the exclusion of the other potential
conclusions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When Wolfe says all the answers are "in the text"
it is like saying that "Osama Bin Laden is 'right there' in Central Asia so why
don't you go out and get him?"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Still, something that Wolfe's argument with
Hartwell does make clear is that Wolfe had a very clear understanding of what
was going on in his story, even the elements kept quite obscure. That's
comforting, at least.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I agree with Michael that The Urth of the New Sun
*was* necessary. I also think a Simarillion of the New Sun would greatly
increase the general enjoyment and popularity of the books. But I don't think
that will happen. Wolfe has said "the answers never last, but the mysteries
never die".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>J.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>