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On 11/30/2011 9:20 AM, Brian wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:20111130142055.3288.qmail@server281.com"
type="cite">
<div>Since we all agree Wikipedia is never wrong ;), I'll just
stick with their definitions. Mandragora is the genus of the
plant mandrake, which often has a somewhat man-shaped root. It
is also the name of a type of demon. These demons are little
dolls given to a sorceror by the Devil for the purpose of
consulting "in time of need". They are thought to be related to
the "<em><a moz-do-not-send="true" title="Fetishism"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetishism">fetish</a></em>,
which is nothing else than a dwelling-place made by a <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="mw-redirect" title="Shaman"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaman">shaman</a> or <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="mw-redirect"
title="Medicine-man"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine-man">medicine-man</a>
for the reception of any wandering spirit who chooses to take up
his abode therein."</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Admittedly, Wikipedia has this last quote labeled as
"citation needed", but this does sound remarkably like a spare
body.</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Very nice. And again, this points me to BLS/BSS, and their multitude
of riders and ridden. Regardless of how much detail Wolfe had worked
out by the time he finished BNS, the concept plainly was fully
developed even though BNS *seems* to have little possession going
on.<br>
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