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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=severiansola@hotmail.com
href="mailto:severiansola@hotmail.com">Lee Berman</A> </DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><BR>> I don't think so. Again, I will invoke Typhon's namesake, the
Mandragora. For me<BR>> the connection between these characters is nearly
undeniable and I find the <BR>> prospect of Severian being delusional about
both their mental powers to be a very<BR>> bleak one in regard to the
enjoyment of the story.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>I don’t see any connection between a long-dead emperor and the pretty
standard homunculus in a jar that Severian finds in the Autarch’s quarters,
along with many other objects of a similar nature.<BR> <BR>> > David
Stockhoff: Does anyone have any opinion on whether or how Abaia and Erebus rule
<BR>> > without resorting to ESP powers?<BR><BR>> I have a nagging
feeling the text does make some mention of Abaia controlling humanity<BR>>
purely through the power of his thought, but I can't pin the passage
down.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>Wasn’t there something about the Wall being built to defend against the
human forces of the sea monsters? I have a vague impression of something
of the kind too.</DIV>
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<DIV>But if we look at the Ascians, the coin, Typhon etc., what I think we see
is a deliberate blurring of the boundaries between powers of charisma, force of
personality etc., and powers which we would consider telepathic. Mucor’s
telepathic abilities, apparently the result of brain modification, suggest to me
that in Wolfe’s world some elements of telepathy exist in everyone, but are
stronger in some, and probably trainable (c.f. Decuman and the village of
sorcerers). Typhon probably does have some telepathic powers which enhance
his already great powers of charisma etc. It is a not uncommon trope in
sf/fantasy.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>Severian (and other narrators) are not delusional about the existence of
such powers, but the powers are not of any special significance to the story.
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<DIV>- Gerry Quinn</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>