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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>> Leaving the question of Typhon's alien nature aside for now, the
Mandragora seems <BR>> almost indisputable proof of Typhon's potential to be
cloned or downloaded into a<BR>> new body in some manner. There is nothing
dragon-like about the fetus in the bottle.<BR>> What possible reason is there
for Wolfe to call it "Mandragora" if not to refer to <BR>> Typhon, the only
other reference to a man-dragon there is.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mandragora is a quite standard name for such homunculi. In fact, it’s
the *only* meaning given by Wikipedia:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">“In myth, <B>mandragoras</B> are </FONT><A
title="Familiar spirit"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar_spirit"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">familiar</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">
</FONT><A title=Demon href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">demons</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"> who appear
in the figures of little men without beards.</FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Mandragoras are thought to be little dolls or
figures given to </FONT><A title="Magic (paranormal)"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">sorcerers</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"> by the
</FONT><A title=Devil href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Devil</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"> for the
purpose of being consulted by them in time of need;”</FONT></P>
<DIV>How can you talk of “undisputable proof”? All you have is an
inconsequential pun. Nothing whatsoever connects the mandragora to Typhon.
</DIV>
<DIV><BR> <BR>> Severian is shocked beyond belief that Typhon would
choose to have his own head chopped<BR>> off as most of us would be. But
Typhon just laughs it off casually demonstrating a lack<BR>> of human body
self-identification and preservation that we all share. Moreover Typhon<BR>>
says he was not born, in the way Severian understands it. The evidence seems
pretty <BR>> clear that the blond-haired body in which Typhon resides is not
his original self.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What blond-haired body? Typhon resides in Piaton’s body. And
indeed, it is not his original self. Nor was his current self born, in the
way Severian would understand it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>- Gerry Quinn</DIV>
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