I got the impression that things on Urth look something like they do on Earth during a partial eclipse. Some stars are visible, the sky is darker, and the sunlight is less intense. I don’t remember whether the Old Sun is described as reddish or I am thinking of “The Dying Earth” series by Jack Vance.
I would like to get audiobooks of Book of the Long Sun and book of the Short Sun.
Has anyone found audiobook versions of these in existence? None at my library(or in its connected library system).
This isn’t completely correct. TBotNS is Severian’s memoir, so he is writing from knowledge of how things turned out and what the later ramifications of seemingly insignificant events were. However, he relates things to us as he believed them to be at the time that they happened. When he told us the the story of his visit to The House Azure, for example, he already knew that the brothel keeper was The Autarch (among other things); but made no mention of any of that and described things as he experienced them at the time. So, more accurately, he tells us what he believed to be the truth (mostly) at the time, but what he believed wasn’t necessarily correct and he may not later explicitly note that he was mistaken. Much of what is cited as examples of Severian lying can, in fact, be explained this way. When he describes an incident differently in a later chapter than how he described it in the chapter “where it happened,” you should consider that the later description is colored by Severian’s post-incident experiences and knowledge.
Well, I’m hardly the most intelligent or analytical guy, but I’m about 55% through the Book of the New Sun and I thought I would spoiler-box my prediction. Gradually, over the end of Claw and the start of Sword, I began to have a theory. I am not really hyper-analyzing things, but my only guess is:
[spoiler]Time Travel appears to be real, using the “mirrors” they have. I wonder if Severian will time travel at the end…back into various parts of the story we have just been told. I suspect he is the current autarch, for example. He is perhaps even the “Conciliator” and the Claw is his. I’m basically thinking he has encountered his future self a few times or at least encountered things he setup in the past, like slipping the Claw to himself.
It’s hardly original, but would seem fresher in 1980-83.
I expect to be wrong, but that is what I am wondering. It would also make a second read more interesting, something people always say about this book.[/spoiler]
That’s my thought as I read, anyway.
If by “current Autarch,” you mean the androgyne/brothel keeper, you are partially correct. Yes, time travel plays a role much as you suspect it to, but not wrt The Claw. The sequel “Urth of the New Sun” covers the time travelling in some detail and I recommend it, if you would like to spend more time with Severian the Lame.