From: "Andrew Bollen" 
Subject: Re: (urth) Duh! Part 2.
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2003 12:34:17 +1000

>
> And yet this is exactly what happens when the Alzabo eats Severa or
> Severian eats the forebrain of Appian.  This is also what happens with
> the Inhumi when they feed on humans or (if the theory is correct)  to
> the trees on Blue when they devour things.  In UotNS Barbatus (I think)
> makes the analogy of a poem written on a wall or on a piece of paper
> (or some such, you get the idea)

For me, one of the ummm metaphysical or whatever underpinnings of the Sun
books is that "soul" will take any opportunity it can to take root and grow,
pretty much regardless of the soil or seed. So the chems definitely have
souls, but we are not to think of their programmers as being in any respect
Creators. Rather, it is divine Grace, filling the universe to bursting
point, which latches on to these profane efforts and sanctifies them. Any
striving towards being "real people" brings huge & fast results.

Babbie, Oreb, even (perhaps) Silkhorn's staff, even the soul-predating
inhumi, especially under the influence of Silkhorn's charisma, but even
without it.



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