I enjoyed this — as I enjoy all thoughtful commentary on this book. I enjoyed it even though I think I’ve busted open the plot — and even though I think the the theme is not the horror of colonialism but it’s folly (that the land colonizes the colonizers) — and also that it is a faerie story.
Whoa! I had a similar theory regarding one major axis of your theory, but I'm not sure I can land there completely (regarding the twins Eastwind and Sandwalker). I'll have to finish listening to the whole explanation, but my initial instinct is that Wolfe hasn't built himself into any permanent, definitive corners. For all that exegesis might illuminate the wonder of his plotting, I think any bows we tie around the story can be untied by the text as well. At least enough so as to cast doubt on a final, irrefutable reading. All that said, damn—thank you for sharing!
I enjoyed this — as I enjoy all thoughtful commentary on this book. I enjoyed it even though I think I’ve busted open the plot — and even though I think the the theme is not the horror of colonialism but it’s folly (that the land colonizes the colonizers) — and also that it is a faerie story.
Anyway, my explanation is at the 1:04 mark HERE:
https://rereadingwolfe.podbean.com/e/bonus-joan-gordon-talks-about-gene-wolfe-and-chapter-6-the-master-of-the-curators-the-shadow-of-the-torturer-the-book-of-the-new-sun/
- James Wynn
Whoa! I had a similar theory regarding one major axis of your theory, but I'm not sure I can land there completely (regarding the twins Eastwind and Sandwalker). I'll have to finish listening to the whole explanation, but my initial instinct is that Wolfe hasn't built himself into any permanent, definitive corners. For all that exegesis might illuminate the wonder of his plotting, I think any bows we tie around the story can be untied by the text as well. At least enough so as to cast doubt on a final, irrefutable reading. All that said, damn—thank you for sharing!