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On 27/09/10 13:12, Lee Berman wrote:<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-w2825DB3D54D770B9CD3FC4CF650@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
We are only introduced to two such victims, Thecla and the female corpse in the
first chapter of Shadow. I don't see much in the text to warrant speculation on
others.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
'k, granted. However V's followers don't seem to find anything too
abnormal in being invited to such a dinner (and there was obviously a
tribade in there somewhere!)<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-w2825DB3D54D770B9CD3FC4CF650@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> Moreover, Thecla's body seems to have been kept on ice for quite some time,
waiting for a special moment. Access to Severian would seem to the the obvious
reason this moment is special. We are told the purpose of the feast is to bind Vodalus'
followers more tightly to him.</pre>
</blockquote>
I suspect so.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-w2825DB3D54D770B9CD3FC4CF650@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> But perhaps the reasons go deeper.
There is a chain of physical appearance clues (dark hair, oval face, olive skin, pale
gown) that might associate the female corpse to Severian's mother, Catherine.</pre>
</blockquote>
This is the description from ch. 1 of 'Shadow': 'They had the corpse of
a woman. Her hair, which had been dark, was in some disorder now about
her livid face; she wore a long gown of some pale fabric.'<br>
<br>
That's it. No oval face or olive skin. But hey, two out of four is ..
average.<br>
<br>
BTW 'Livid' - means that her face appears engorged with blood - as in
postmortem lividity. Given the level of speculation around here, I'm
not that reluctant to suggest that this implies she may have been
buried <i>face down</i>. <br>
<br>
Witches are supposed to have been interred in this way in some
cultures; also suspected vampires. <br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-w2825DB3D54D770B9CD3FC4CF650@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> Perhaps
the real reason for choice of victims is not only to create loyalty bonds. Perhaps there
is the hidden purpose of collecting the lives and memories of people who are important
to Severian.</pre>
</blockquote>
Yup, agreed, it would be quite unlike our GW not to have an alternate
agenda - not so much hidden, as left for the reader to work out - here.
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-w2825DB3D54D770B9CD3FC4CF650@phx.gbl"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Master Ash suggests that the Ascians are making their massive offensive, despite being ill-
equipped and manned because of some sudden new unidentified development. I think it is the
imminent presence of Severian on the battlefield.
</pre>
</blockquote>
Rather (and if I'd time, I'd take this to a new thread, since it
clearly is one) I suspect the implication is that this is the last
chance the Ascians can have for victory, since if they don't conquer
now, Severian will inevitably become Autarch and since he is the New
Sun, the New Sun's enemies will therefore be doomed to fail. <br>
<br>
The Hierodules and their masters live 'backwards'; they remember our
future. Therefore, they KNOW that Sev is the New Sun; they don't simply
suspect, they know, because they've lived his future before they first
meet him. Erebus, Abaia, Scylla et al, and their human allies, have
presumably gotten wind of this, and know that they have to stop
Severian before he takes on his destiny, or not stop him at all. <br>
<br>
jd<br>
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