Sometimes, with unintended irony, a person describes herself when describing others. Tatiana Thane, the Cosmenosist, says:
"'In spite of callin' itself objective rather than supernatural, what Orcans have got behaves like a religion.'" (15, p. 193)
She claims that Ivar the skeptic would not seek common cause with visionaries. But here she is trying to throw Desai off the scent. Later, to Gabriel Stewart, she says:
"'He's got to be among Orcans. Nothin' else makes sense. He our rightful temporal ruler, Jaan our mental one.'" (ibid.)
Trying to use more scientific-sounding terminology, she says "mental," not "spiritual."
Desai has told her about a Merseian agent:
"'...strange enough to maybe, just maybe, be forerunner for Builders.'" (p. 194)
More unintended irony: the Chereionites were the Ancients.
Tatiania describes one Aenean social group that is mentioned elsewhere but does not otherwise appear:
"'...highlanders of Chalce. They're tough, independent-minded clansmen... '" (ibid.)
Jaan:
"'...looked at the blaze of the Crux twins, and at the darkness which cleaves the Milky Way where the nebulae hide from us the core of our galaxy...'" (17, p. 206)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, the Chereionites were the "Ancients," but not in the least the kind of transcendent mystics with awesome powers (aside from telepathy) the Cosmenosists were expecting!
Should the Cosmenosism Aycharaych was cooking up a kind of neo-Gnosticism? Salvation was to be gained from acquiring secret knowledge and access to mysterious powers? And Aycharaych deliberately worked in contradictions and inconsistencies in the artificial faith designed to encourage splits, heresies, schisms, etc. To ensure weakness and disunity in the face of Merseian aggression.
Ad astra! Sean
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