Many Mansions

Publication(s)

Summary

A representative of a conquering empire learns from the natives about houses that move.

Analysis

  • The moving houses could be a reference to Baba Yaga, a witch who lives in a house with chicken feet.
  • The word autochthons has a similar meaning as aborigines, see definition.
  • The title is from the Bible: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-3). In a sinister inversion of the promise of heaven, these houses have "a place" for people to run them.
  • The imperial society is a women-only one that seems to reproduce by cloning. This is like a technologically advanced version of the society in In Looking-Glass Castle.
  • Marc Aramini's post on the Urth.net mailing list

Unresolved Questions

I believe it's possible to argue the story takes place in the same milieu as THE FIFTH HEAD OF CERBERUS and specifically on the world of Sainte Anne. At the very least I see it as companion piece to FIFTH HEAD, in much the same way "A Solar Labyrinth" and "Four Wolves" can be read in regards to NEW SUN.

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