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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 07/10/2014 04:12, Richard Simon
wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:1412651538.92302.YahooMailNeo@web171306.mail.ir2.yahoo.com"
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<div><span>My own view on this is as follows: most of Wolfe's
'puzzles' have a direct bearing on the story; that is to
say, they conceal information that could help the reader
understand something more about the plot, the characters,
the subtext, etc. They are <span style="font-style:
italic;">functional</span>, part of the mechanics of the
story itself.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.4444446563721px;
font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica,
Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-style: italic;
background-color: transparent;"><span><br>
</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.4444446563721px;
font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica,
Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; background-color:
transparent;">Occasionally, when he thinks it is possible for
him to do so without endangering the sense or misleading the
reader , Wolfe will add a poetic conceit, usually a classical
allusion. Decyphering it will add something to the reader's
enjoyment but little to his understanding.</div>
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<br>
In the main I agree with this, as regards the interpretation of
names and events.<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:1412651538.92302.YahooMailNeo@web171306.mail.ir2.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
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font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial,
Lucida Grande, Sans-Serif;font-size:14px">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.4444446563721px;
font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica,
Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; background-color:
transparent;"><br>
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<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.4444446563721px;
font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica,
Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; background-color:
transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I do </span><span
style="font-style: italic;">not</span> believe that
symbolism in the work of Gene Wolfe has any relevance outside
the frame of the story. I often see his interpreters present
some example of the use of symbols that they have found (or
think they have found) as a full and sufficient explanation of
Wolfe is up to at that point in the narrative. They read it as
an attempt to convey some extra-literary meaning. They are
mistaken. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gene Wolfe is a
creator of popular entertainments, nothing more.</span> He
is certainly a great author — 'great' as in 'for the ages' —
but he is not a preacher or a philosophical huckster. He is a
technician, a craftsman above all.<br>
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<br>
Perhaps this goes too far, or it could be that I am mistaking what
you are trying to express. We are certainly intended to consider
many of his works in the light of Christianity, or perhaps to
consider Christianity in the light of his works.. But maybe you are
including that in the 'mechanics'.<br>
<br>
- Gerry Quinn<br>
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