The Sword and Laser discussion

These are from Andre-Driussi's Lexicon Urthus. I don't have a scanner at home, so unfortunately these are (contrast boosted) photos instead of proper scans.

Goodreads are re-sizing them a bit too, so you click the links below the 1st two for slightly larger versions.

Zooming out, starting with the Citadel:



> Actual image size

Nessus:



> Actual image size

NW corner of the Commonwealth:



Ascia and Commonwealth:



Sorry for the crappy quality - grab Lexicon Urthus for the real things. ;)

i've been meaning to get it for ages, i really must do. thanks for posting these!

This is a bit toungu in cheek, but I remember a reference to Mount Rushmore in the book - Severian camps under it I'm sure! Someone with the text find a reference please :P That would mean the setting is in North America, not South as the image above might suggest.

i can't remember the specific reference, but i think it's something along the lines that all the mountains had been carved into the faces of the kings of a long forgotten age. not specifically Mt Rushmore, and i think possible Wolfe giving a bit of misdirection...

Well, one thing to take in mind, Americans don't have the patent on faces carved in stone, contrary to popular belief. ;P

Well, Jared did say he was speaking tongue-in-cheek.

I think the biggest hint that the Commonwealth is in South America is through Apu-Punchau. Apu-Punchau ("Head of the Day") is another name for Inti, the Inca sun god. The "cyclopean stone" that Apu-Punchau's resurrected Stone Town is built with is one of the features of Incan architecture. The mausoleum Severian played in as a kid was Apu-Punchau's tomb. The ziggurat which Severian is imprisoned by Vodalus in Citadel could then also be an ancient mesoamerican step-pyramid.