The Beast

[Lost_In_Crete]

Okay, so the beast and the staircase (and more) are derived from the legend of the A Bao A Qu. A Bao A Qu may be derived from Abang Aku, which translates loosely to "My Elder Brother." I would have an elder brother but he was stillborn. His name was Daniel. Anybody else find this kinda eerie? (Yet cool.) Maybe it's just me.

[PaulHewson]

Well, I've never heard of an A Bao A Qu, nor am I entirely sure what language it is (Arabic? Indian?) One thing I do know is that Poe and Mark have an older brother named Chris. If anyone wants proof of this, I'll email you the full text of Tad Danielewski's obituary (half of it appears in the album cover of Haunted...it cuts off the bottom of the article which mentions Chris). So, I think there may be something to this A Bao A Qu / Older Brother thing.

[Lost_In_Crete]

Check out www.xlibris.de/magickriver/abaoaqu.htm (http://www.xlibris.de/magickriver/abaoaqu.htm)
for an abridged version of the A Bao A Qu story... I believe a printed edition of Borges' version is available somewhere, not sure what compilation it's in though.

Interesting about Chris...

[mgts]

thanks jessie (and lost- and paul) for the insight and the links to borges. the little i read as i scanned themodernworld.com seemed to be rather relevent to HOL. i'll have to spend more time there, gleaning...

humble appreciation from a non-literary sort.

[Lost_In_Crete]

Thanks everybody! I have gotten lots of valuable information! Still no posts to the Daniel coincidence... maybe it's only weird if you're me?

[MicheleVR5]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote
Still no posts to the Daniel coincidence... maybe it's only weird if you're me?

Hop over to the Links forum and check out the KCRW Bookworm interview. The interviewer seems to have a similar theory, but since he doesn't explain it you'll have to come up with your own reasoning...

[meanhippie]

Very cool, dude - I had heard of A Bao A Qu as it relates to Borges but i did not think of it when reading book - doesn't change my opinion of the overblown sense of the book but it is an interesting footnote -

[Lost_In_Crete]

If Paul's post is true, is it entirely unlikely that the beast is Chris? With the minotaur reference, the whole dishonorable son thing, hidden away in a maze, etc... if the book was written even in a loosely autobiographical sense, I find it hard to believe that a brother, let alone an older one would be left out... any takers?

[kimlan]

I've looked over the whole A Bao A Qu theory. Did any one else take note to the phase “My Elder Brother is a reference to the Orang Asli. Our spirit will not be free until the younger races achieve nobility of purpose and purity of heart.” ?
Tom death applies to A Bao A Qu and since Navidson survives has he "attained Nirvana" (metaphorically or symbolically)?

[Lost_In_Crete]

So since Navy saves Tom the House ceases to exist for him and his family, since the House was partially a manifestation of the tension between the brothers?

[kimlan]

navy saves tom?!?!?

[Lost_In_Crete]

images/smiles/icon_smile.gif I meant since he was willing to.

[hello?]

i think it's strange that Poe and Mark never mention Chris. like in Poe's list of "thank you"s in both Haunted and Hello, even when she mentions her family, there is no Chris. why??????? Is he a stray son? Did he die? Is Mark really Chris and he just changed his name to Mark? ...i don't get it.

[ManiKatt]

{lease lead me to this info on "Chris" e-mail me if you want divinillion@yahoo.com

[ManiKatt]

I really want this obituary, please send it to me anyone who has it. I'm refering to Mark's dad, also any info on Chris I need, I'm developing a kinddof creative thesis on HOL and this would be very helpful.
ttakinam

[BlackWidow]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ManiKAtt:
I really want this obituary, please send it to me anyone who has it. I'm refering to Mark's dad, also any info on Chris I need, I'm developing a kinddof creative thesis on HOL and this would be very helpful.
ttakinam<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I believe you can find Tad Danielewski's obituary in Poe's liner notes for the Haunted album. If not, it's surely floating around there, cause I have definitely seen it.

[Kshar]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BlackWidow:
[QB]

I believe you can find Tad Danielewski's obituary in Poe's liner notes for the Haunted album.QB]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There's only a part of it there. I would think it's probably archived at one of the HoL or Poe fansites though, if whoever's looking for it still hasn't had any luck...