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<font size=3>It's been a while, but it seems to me that Ultan's library
contains a book that contains all other books. If so, that's the aleph
book from Borges.<br><br>
Nutria (are you guys still using such names?) JBJordan<br><br>
At 11:17 AM 11/23/2009, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I've always thought the
Borges=Ultan theory was tenuous.<br>
Not impossible, just not much supporting it beyond Utlan's<br>
blindness. Borges is a great writer, but other than "The Book
of<br>
Imaginary Beings" which cites the Baldanders, I haven't noted
much<br>
influence from him. Of course, that might be due to a deficiency in<br>
my Borges knowledge.[snip]While Wolfe might well have been<br>
introduced to the monster "Baldanders" by
Borges...</blockquote></blockquote><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">In terms of Borges influencing
Wolfe (in general and BOTNS in particular),<br>
the Borges story Funes the Memorious features a character who<br>
remembers everything in perfect detail<br>
[snip]<br>
Gene Wolfe has also commented on the influence of Borges:<br>
GW: Yes, I took the name of the giant who is still growing from<br>
The Book of Imaginary Beings</blockquote><br>
Well, that certainly settles where he got the name, although how it
relates to Wolfe's constantly growing giant is still a mystery to
me.<br><br>
And also Borges was a blind librarian of South America. Even if one
happily embraced the theory that Buenos Aires is Nessus, that's still a
thin hook to hang a theory that Ultan was patterned on Borges...not that
I don't *like* the theory and it certainly does no harm. But while I
heard and read Wolfe repeatedly allude to Chesterton and Vance being
"influences" (and he explicitly identified The Dying Earth as
his "golden book"), I've never heard him say that about Borges.
Its seems such a grand honor to give to another writer (some have even
associated Cyby with Wolfe himself). It suggests an association greater
than mere professional and artistic admiration.<br><br>
By the way, does anyone have the lyrics to 70s folk band Ougenweide's
song "Bald Anders"?<br><br>
J. <br>
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</blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
James B. Jordan<br>
Director, Biblical Horizons<br>
Box 1096<br>
Niceville, FL 32588<br>
<a href="http://www.biblicalhorizons.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.biblicalhorizons.com</a></font></body>
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