Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 13:23:03 -0600 (MDT)
From: Bratt Ian 
Subject: RE: (urth) Another Avern for you


On Tue, 30 Jul 2002, Crush wrote:

> Hmmm. I thought they were "shadowless" because they were in continuous dark?
> Although, no doubt they interpreted it the other way. But the Ascians are
> under the control Erebus (Erebus according to Hesiod is the "darkness of
> Tartaros")
>
> Severian is the New Sun, the roses (which are sun symbols) represent life,
> nenuphars whose roots extend to the darkness of the water represent death.
>
> Surely darkness is ironically the intended implication of the name "Ascian".
>
> -- Crush
>

Interesting idea.  I've always thought they were "shadowless" because of
their lack of individuality.  If we take the route that to have a shadow
is to have a soul (Vampires have no reflection) and to have a soul is to
be human, then the Ascians have lost what makes them human.  In this
case, I've always considered that to be their individuality.  Although I
find the darkness theory reasonable and even somewhat similar.

-Ian




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