From: matthew.malthouse@guardian.co.uk
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 13:23:46 +0100
Subject: Re: (urth) names + Typhon




On 20/06/2002 18:35:31 maa32 wrote:

>Mr. Borski has recently made the point that Typhon's name is
mythological,
>implying that he should be of alien stock rather than simply of "other",
>urthly origin.  However, aren't there mythological names, like Talos,
that
>reveal traits rather than place of origin?  Talos is a mechanical man,
but he
>is not necessarily extra-terrestrial - indeed, he is from Urth.  It does
imply
>that he is "other" - and while I CAN see a slight difference between
>Baldanders and the mythological names, I don't find the presence of a
>mythological name as complete evidence that Typhon must be
extraterrestrial -
>rather, it could be an assumed name that shows his difference and
superiority
>to his "normal" subjects (much as Karol Wojtyla would choose the name
John
>Paul II or Bullingbrook would name himself Henry IV - it is common to
choose a
>name of distinction to establish the authority of "otherness", and
insinuate
>that you are of uncommon stock).  Just a note - I think we need slightly
more
>than a mythological name to definitely brand someone as Alien, since I
don't
>think all the characters with mythological names are from the outer
reaches,
>especially as evidenced by Dr. Talos.

Of the word alien do you mean "non-human" or "not of Urth".

Typhon's story suggests that he is human but not of earth.

Talos is of Urth but created (by Baldanders).

And that put's me in mind of a third distinction.  Are the heirodules not
created (in the hey, look what I cooked up rather than the created He
them, male and female kind)?

Matthew



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