The Map

Publication(s)

  • First publication
    • Light Years and Dark, ed. Michael Bishop, 1984
  • Wolfe collection(s)
  • Other anthologies
    • The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection, 1985

Wolfe's comments from the Introduction to Endangered Species

"We have sought and not found, you and I -- thus, The Map. Sought and found, and thus The Detective of Dreams."

Summary

Eata (a childhood companion of Severian) has become a river guide. He was betrayed and attacked for one treasure map, and he guides a man who has another in the ruins south of Nessus.

Analysis

  • This story takes place after Severian becomes autarch but before he leaves to bring the New Sun.
  • Sources of quotes
  • Meanings of names
  • References to other works
  • Theories about what happens under the surface, what the narrator isn't telling us, who the narrator is and when and why s/he is telling the story, what the whole thing "means," etc.
    If there are multiple or competing theories, each one should be given a name with a three-bang (!!!) header; if the page begins to get out-of-hand from the size of these, as could happen in a few cases, they should be shuffled off to their own page(s).
  • Etc.

Unresolved Questions

  • Was it A or was it B, or was it X or Z?
  • Was it he or was it she, or was it you or me?
  • Who dunnit?
  • Did the Star Child really start WWIII at the end of 2001?

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