I urge you to dig. Give in to the unknown for a while and ponder the mystery. It’s worth it. – JJ. Abrams
- A Spoiler-Free Beginner’s Guide to Reading “S.” (no spoilers)
- An Intermediate Guide to Reading “S.” (spoilers)
- Walk-Throughs (detailed, orderly analysis of chapters, characters, or themes)
- Inserts (where the inserts are and what they might mean)
- What it Means to Follow the Monkey
News
- Gaspard Serge Coriolis – These are the wrong trousers (or are they)?
- The Transition from V to VI – Something is happening here
- Forrest Fenn’s Treasure – Sometimes the treasure comes to you.
- Hail to the Sheaf – Intriguing etymological roots that spread themselves throughout “S”
- Boundaries – A look at an overarching theme in “S” – crossing boundaries.
- An Unsettling Theory – An etymological study of the many uses of settle in “S”
- As Thick as Don Quixote – Remarkable Similarities in the Title Pages of DQ and S
- SToRA KArlso?
- Is the Toronto Review a Secret Message?
- Await What the Stars Will Bring
- Exasperatingly Endless – Is there a Code in this Footnote?
- A new blog surfaces with intriguing contributions to the “S” mystery
- Mystimus speaks to Doug Bolles of 42minutes.com in this podcast on “S” and LOST.
- What it Means to Follow the Monkey
- Agent #4 and His Travels
- Where in the World is El-H–?
- The Name and Location of B–
- The World Knows S’s Name
- Liar, Liar, Pants on Pfeifer
Blog Posts
- The Transition from V to VI
-
Boundaries – A look at an overarching theme in S – crossing boundaries.
-
As Thick as Don Quixote – Remarkable Similarities in the Title Pages of DQ and S
- SToRA KArlso?
- Is the Toronto Review a Secret Message?
- Await What the Stars Will Bring
- Exasperatingly Endless – Is there a Code in this Footnote?
- What it Means to Follow the Monkey
- Agent #4 and His Travels
- Where in the World is El-H–?
- The Name and Location of B–
- The World Knows S’s Name
- Liar, Liar, Pants on Pfeifer
- An Unsettling Theory
- A new Portuguese Blog, the Island of Obsidian, Examines the Mysteries of “S”
- There is Only One Footnote in Chapter 9: Birds of Negative Space
- The Interlude – Tocatta and Fugue in Real Time
- Let the Speculation Begin about the Number 7
- Agent X Marks the Spot
- The Many Colors of Chapter 2
- The Quality of Silence
- In Search of the Cipher in the Foreword
- A Love “Letter” to the Written Word
- An Interactive Map of Locations in “S”
- A Stitch in Time Saves Nine? (A study of the number 9 throughout “S”)
- The Answers You Seek May Be Found at the Library
- The Library of San Tadeo de la Tejera (a study of the insert between pages 20-21)
- Is this the Location of Vevoda’s Chateau?
- An Assassin’s Pen – an examination of the three appearances of the poison pen
- What Begins at the Water – a new theory on the meaning of “S”
- Location, Location, Location – a walkthrough of S’s emphasis on location.
- Did VMS tell FXC he loved her using the EOTVOS Wheel?
- Why do We Have Eric & Jen’s copy of Ship of Theseus?
- The Complete Works of V.M. Straka (a handy reference guide to all nineteen of Straka’s novels)
- The Wall Writing and its Possible Code
- HELLO RAIN. I SEE YOU’VE MET MY PARADE.
- The Sign of the Raven
- An Intermediate Guide to Reading “S” – for those who have finished a first-read and want to go deeper
- “S” is Absurd
- The Canadian Adventurer C. F. J. Wallingford
- The Interlude Cipher
- More Clues – Can You Read This?
- Estonian Composer Ragnar Rummo: Real?
- New Clues from the Straka Obituary in the Baltimore Bugle-Dispatch
- The Location of PSU Discovered! (Connections to Hemingway and Pfeifer)
- New Clues from the Jen Hayward Tumblr Blog
- Transparent Man – Connections in the Alternate Ending
- The Havana Hotel Room Photographs are Fake
- Birds of Negative Space (all the answers await)
- Racing the Clock to Locate Yourself
- Chapter 7: The Obsidian Island
- It All Goes Back to Calais, Part 2 (new clues surface)
- Follow the Monkey and You’ll Find…Yourself
- When Eric found Filomela (amazing connections)
- St. Sebastian appears again
- Free autographed copies of S are being hidden, with clues to their locations tweeted by @DougDorst.
- The Rumor Mill is the Principality of Rumor?
- You All Everybody! New clues surface in “S”
- The Commingled Joy and Terror of Creation (Metaphysical poetry in “S”)
- Sensible Vultures
- When the Projector Went Out
- Maelstrom – an Exhaustive Translation
- Connections Between p18-19 and the End of Chapter Three
- There is Nothing to Know About Six. Six is Nothing.
- S’s Overcoat: A Grand Metaphorical Interpretation
- The Waterwheel Theory
- It takes TIME to Understand the Valise
- Hidden in Plain Sight: S. = Vaclav Straka?
- An Interpretation of S.’s Dreams of Sola
- Straka’s Original Ending to Ship of Theseus
- Clues in the Interlude: Toccata and Fugue in Real Time (Fn2, p300)
- The Archer’s Tales – How to Find It
- Interesting Connections – a Growing List of random but intriguing connections in “S.”
- John Locke in “S”
- Book Club Kit arrives from Mulholland
- Proof that V.M. Straka did not die in Havana?
- The Archer’s Tales – from Magpie to Bullseye
- Whatever the Case May Be 2 (The Valise)
- Whatever the Case May Be (The Valise)
- The May 8th Interview with Doug Dorst
- Fn2 of the Foreword Yields Clues
- Something is happening on April 28
- The Emersion of S.
- KEY STOLEN. ASSUME BAG GONE. I FAILED
- p268 of The Winged Shoes of Emydio Alves has surfaced!
- Unifying “S.” and the four alternate endings
- Alternate Ending for Chapter 10 of Ship of Theseus by V.M. Straka EPH-9993 (00291)
- Those Campfire Stories
- The Way Out Was Down. Is Down.
- The Storehouse at El H—
- Similarities between LOST and “S.”
- The Waste Land
- Who is The Lady on Obsidian Island?
- Sobreiro – The Cork Tree
- What Begins, What Ends (an examination of the focus on beginnings and endings)
- Every 19 Pages: A Walkthrough
- Connections (Part 2) in the Interlude (Toccata and Fugue in Real Time)
- Connections in the Interlude (Toccata and Fugue in Real Time)
- The Symbols on the Cave Wall (a closer look at the symbols on p184)
- Reconnecting with Ourselves in “S”
- It all Goes Back to Calais
- The Postcards from Eric Husch to Jen Heyward During his Trip to Brazil
- Thoughts on Chapter 1: What Begins, What Ends
- “S.” Sees Himself in “S.” (Why does “S.” see his time-traveling self?)
- Coriolis and Finnegans Wake (similarities between Coriolis by V.M. Straka and Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce)
- Godel, Escher, Bach in “S” (Self-reference and the Eternal Golden Braid)
- Eric Husch’s Letter to Jen Heyward (Biblical overtones along with allusions to the Titanic and Parmenides of Elea)
- Birds of Negative Space in Gödel, Escher, Bach
- The Archer’s Tales and the Tortugan Journals
- Is “S” on a Fugue Walkabout?
- The Card from Jean Bernard Desjardins
- The Summersby Confession Transcript
- The Winged Shoes of Emydio Alves
- Terra Australis Incognita (Startling connections in “S.” to the unknown land of the south)
- The Letter from Desjardins to Eric Husch
- A Game-Changing Look at “S.” (Fn5, p52 might just lead to a brand-new way to look at “S”)
- The answers you seek may be found at the library
- What is the Substance? (what is that black stuff
- The letter from Ermelinda Pega to Eric and Jen
- What is “the tradition?” (a strictly metaphorical analysis)
- The Burden-Shirt in The Drifting Twins (Fn5, p252)
- Thoughts on Chapter 9: Birds of Negative Space
- The Sisterhood of Filomela Caldeira and Amarante Durand (Fn13, p231)
- A Torrent of Words (an in-depth look at the 24 phrases in the “torrent of words” on p380)
- San Sebastián Hotel in Havana, Cuba (Jack Shephard in LOST practiced in San Sebastián Hospital. Coincidence?)
- The Truth About Jen’s Empty Blue Square in the Marginalia
- Who is Edsel B. Grimshaw? (Clues to the identity of EBG, mentioned in the marginalia and the external insert review)
- Omphaloskepsis
- The Cipher’s Progress: V.M. Straka’s Ship of Theseus
- Follow the Monkey (a walkthrough of monkey appearances along with a metaphorical interpretation)
- Avoid Grand Central (similarities in Eric’s steam-tunnel map, the first bomb on the wharf in B__, and the beginning of World War I)
- Carl Jung and “S” (similarities between the story of “S.” and the writings of Carl Jung)
- XBTUP – X Marks the Spot
- It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night
- Holystones
- Eureka!
Questions? Comments? Email me at mystimus@gmail.com.
Captain said:
Nice work on organization. Thanks
Luca Daniele said:
– La nave di Teseo è il nome che scelse Umberto Eco per la nuova casa editrice.
– Umberto Eco ha scritto il Cimitero di Praga che come ben noto e’ articolato con protagonisti due personaggi conviventi in due parti della stessa abitazione che si scambiano alternandosi note e commenti su un loro diario, ma sono la stessa persona!
– J.J. Abrams e Doug Dorst hanno realizzato S. anni dopo il romanzo di Eco, ma non ne fanno alcun accenno, facendo riferimento solo allo scrittore B.Traven come ispiratore del fittizio autore V.M.Straka
1) Quanto ha influito “il Cimitero di Praga” sulla realizzazione di “S.”?
2) Quando, e perché, Eco ha scelto quel nome per la casa editrice?
In breve, è tutto casuale? Si tratta di una forzata analisi frutto della ossessione di risolvere enigmi e trovare indizi e collegamenti dovuti alla lettura di S.?
Marie said:
Hi there,
I just started “S” last week, so I am a complete beginner. I was wondering whether anyone has “translated” the pirate-like talk of Malstroem in the first two chapters (that’s how far I am by now)? English is not my first language, so I get most but not all of it (and I fear that I miss important stuff).
Hope that someone can help:)
Brian Shipman said:
I do not know of a word-by-word analysis of Maelstrom’s pirate-speak, but if you point out something specific I’m sure I and others will venture our best translation attempt.
For example, “coggin'” means “thinking” or “understanding”, I believe.
Timothy Timmy Tim Tum said:
I think Malstroem has a Jamaican accent.
On p32 he says:
Int mine =Isn’t mine.
Dunt ten’ a name = Doesn’t have a name.
Dun once, haps. Dunt n’more = Did once, perhaps. Doesn’t anymore.
Ridden o’mine = Getting rid of mine
They ridden o’tharn. Names’s trouble = They are getting rid of theirs. Names are trouble.
On p33 he says:
Trouble = Trouble
We’ve ‘structs to take y’. = We have instructions to take you.
Take y’. = Take you
No where = No where
Int na captain = There isn’t a captain
Int na captain. ‘S us. We viv the ship = There isn’t a captain. Just us. We and the ship.
Do what’s needin = Do what is necessary
On p38 he says:
Ye’ll work t’ lapsin an’ yond. Creed on’t = You’ll work until collapsing and beyond. Count on it.
Int no spondin’ tha = There’s no responding to that.
On p39 he says:
Cause cant nobod spond it = Because nobody can respond to it.
Landways voxin tha’ Sola gotter shine wi’ ye = On land there is talk that Sola likes you.
On p50 he says:
Fool. Yer assin mayed a’flammus t’the waterline = Fool. Your messing may burn us to the waterline
On page 51 he says:
Y’aint coggin naught, are ye? = You aren’t understanding nothing, are you?
On page 52 he says:
Rise y’proper, sunnydags = Get up now, sunny boys!
We’re nigh to nudgin y’ship. Ye’ll want t’ viz it, asure = We are near to nudging your ship. You will want to see it, for sure.
On p54 he says:
Lad oughta et the monk’. Weepin hearts don’ lass aseas = Boy should have ate the monkey. Weeping hearts don’t last on the seas.
On p55, he says:
Dint I jus’ ware y’ on weepin hearts? = Didn’t I just warn you about weeping hearts?
He migh’ still ha’ som t’give = He might still have something to give.
Y’ought be more heedin where y’put y’spires. Misprendins a finn way a’get y’proper dead = You ought to worry more where you put your nose. Being nosey is a fine way to get you killed.
On page 200, he says:
Vizz we hookt one ugger rough-fish? We’ve the bless o’ th’ damnt, we do. = See we hooked one ugly rough fish? We have the curse of the damned, we do.
On p201, he says:
Wellvenoo, sunnydags. Rise y’proper. = Well now, sunny boys. Get up (set sail?).
Ohoy! I spotted another translation of Maelstroem here: https://whoisstraka.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/maelstrom-an-exhaustive-translation/
TC said:
It’s surprisingly consistent with Puerto rican spanish. He misuses and miscongegates words. Without knowing at leastMexican style Spanish you will discover it’s difficult to understand much of what he says.
Mary Holst said:
I was wondering if someone could make 5 discussion questions for a group I am leading about the format, story, and the themes. Thanks!
Brian Shipman said:
Here is my attempt. Other readers, please feel free to help Mary with your own version of questions. And Mary, regardless of what questions you actually choose, I would love for you to comment here on how your group went.
1. What story snippets can you find in Chapter 1 that parallel larger themes throughout the remainder of the book? (See https://whoisstraka.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/thoughts-on-chapter-1-what-begins-what-ends/ for possible answers)
2. J.J. Abrams describes this book as a “love letter to the written word.” In what ways do you see this revealed within S?
3. What do you make of S’s ability to think abstractly about his surroundings and circumstances, even in the midst of terrible situations? Specifically, what do you think of his detailed analysis of the cave paintings as he runs from Vevoda’s detectives?
4. The margin notes between Eric and Jen often parallel the action within SOT on an emotional level. “Different stories. Same tradition.” How do you see this playing out and what importance do you think it carries?
5. The ship that carries S is clearly a metaphor, but for what exactly? Its ability to “resurrect” and hide on the waters and still be the same ship despite every piece of wood being replaced must mean something. Use the story in the Chapter “Obsidian Island” where S. sits down and reads the book labeled “S” and sees nothing but page after page of drawings of the ship to help explain your answer.
Llythwynn Dary said:
Hey! Nice to have my site visited by a fellow Straka-seeker 🙂 I must admit, I’ve fallen out of the circle regarding the book. Is there more mystery and puzzle still going on? Seemed to have quieted down for a long time, so I stopped checking in…
Brian Shipman said:
Loved your Thanksgiving post. As far as Straka and its mysteries and puzzles, I think there is progress. Depends on how you look at it. Would love to see any thoughts you have if you have time to delve back in.
storywrtr said:
Just starting this book, finally. Hoping this will help tremendously.
Brian Shipman said:
Good luck, storywrtr. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
tony said:
Nearly finished with my first reading of S. I’ve found myself hoping that we might be treated to other Straka books, to the point I’ve even written to Mulholland Books about it. The only thing that could make this experience more exciting is to have even more texts to analyze on multiple levels. Thanks for such an expansive website. I hope to dive into it even more upon finally completing the book.
Theresa said:
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT.
I am on page 53 and apparently have just discovered that FXC is a woman. I had noticed up until this point the name “Felomena” mentioned on various pages, which to me, came out of nowhere. But I turned back to the beginning of the book when FXC was explained and no where does it say F=Felomena, but Francisco or Filip (pg vii)
Did I miss something?
Brian Shipman said:
See Jen’s margin notes at the bottom right of p29.
Theresa said:
Thank you!! Haha I definitely read that but didn’t absorb it. And I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me again as I progress in the book.
Brian Shipman said:
Theresa – we are all in the same boat (pun intended). It took me multiple readings of both text and marginalia to absorb things that seemed obvious later. I think most of us here would admit the same. Happy reading and ask as many questions as you like!
danielrollins said:
Hey everyone,
I’ve just begun the reading of S. but from what I’ve seen so far, and seems to be missed for the most part is the heavy undercurrent of references to the “Ancient Mysteries”, Alchemical Arts, and Mystery Schools.
In the book, JJ is regularly making references using metaphor to the structures of conciousness as well as the shape and architecture of the Universe as describe in Ancient Egypt, the masonic Order, and general magic and mystery schools the world at large.
In the first chapter alone he begins with a character which is lost in a maze town, drowned in water, meaning that he’s just submerged himself into the depths of the feminine. A further indication of this is when he blatantly states that the mans entire right side hurts. (indicating his masculine side)
This is used because the man’s masculine side has been overtaxed so thus he is submerging himself into the waters of the feminine to uncover a more balanced way of being. (The city reflects his unbalanced way of being being off tilt)
The relationship to the masculine and feminine sides of the body can be read on this site or just googled.
http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/3938.html
The first chapter alone has all over the place these metaphors relating to going down into the body and into the root. (or root chakra) Or in other words into the collective unconcious and the root history of our society.
Symbols used such S. indicate Scorpion, or Scorpio, or the Snake from the Garden of Eden. Whilst the main character carries a “dried” up fruit indicating a reference to the fruit of knowledge. pg 6
This fruit is reffered to as “ancient and petrified”.
The word ancient is then used again where the description of the cities physics is described as ancient and flawed as on page 8 and on pg 4 as well “ancient and flawed geometries”
These are references to the Ancient Mysteries schools body of knowledge into the Sacred Geometry and Number.
Numbers like 3,6,9 show up many times (which are important in the mystery schools)
The word Mobius is used on page 10 and 11 referencing the geometrical structure of the universe as it is also coupled with words surrounding it relating to sound.
These two pages together have heavy references to torriodal mathematics and sacred geometry.
Some info on torroidal math and the importance of 3,6, and 9 is here: http://vortexmath.webs.com/
In this radio here mathematician Michael Sneider talks about how the geometry in our society and our understanding of number isn’t aligned with natural geometry.
Further information on a more natural and geometrical form of mathematics is here:
http://www.constructingtheuniverse.com
Within this site you’ll find the ties of geometry to Ancient Mystery Schools.
Again focus is put within the body on the desciptions of the “organ grinder” and his relationship to money and trusting the person he is working with. These are more aspects relating to the root chakra and related the Scorpio constellation.
In the first chapter alone JJ is setting up a world where one is going down into a roots of society to discover the source of the flawed geometry. This is a major reference to “sacred geometry” and how most of our society is built off of flawed geometries (ones that are disproportional with natures natural ratios of Phi.)
The reason why JJ Chose S to be Scorpio is because scorpio is the investigator, they are all about going deep down into the collective unconcious ( or flawed geometries of old cities) and uncovering the truth.
Anyway those are some of the aspects I observed, I don’t have the time to write everything I saw, plus it wouldn’t be too fun it I gave all the secrets away.
Enjoy!
Scott Ivlow said:
I just started reading S. In May. I have read any thing on just how much Ship of Theseues refferences Greek mythoology with out it’s own blog. The one of the pictures on the book cover on The Winged Shoes of Emydio Alves are White Ravens that are only referred to in Greek mythology. The Raven has it’s own Ship of Theseus going on through litary history. The Ravan also has a Shakespeare connection as it does to Doug Dorst nd the Ship of Theseaus
Scott Ivlow said:
My comment posted buy accident. The Shakespare connection to the Raven because it was mentioned in 3 of his stories. Ship of Theseus has a connection to Shakespare because the whole point of the book is to try to uncover who is V.M. Straka. Nobody knows if William Shakesphare are his writing or somebody else like a Duke. Enter 20 th Century B. Traven remove the B and T you have Raven.
jwatson said:
Hi everybody,
I’m currently reading this book for a sociology class and am on chapter 8. I’m wondering if anyone can help me with the code wheel that is in the back of the book. I’ve noticed some of the letters in the chapter 8 footnotes are offset and wondering whether those are the letters that are used in the code wheel. Thanks!
Brian Shipman said:
Interesting – would love to hear how you are using this book in a sociology class. I can tell you anything you like about the code wheel, but I hesitate to do so on this page for fear of spoiling the fun. I will say, though, that the offset letters in Chapter 8 are unrelated entirely to the code wheel. If you read the entire book, I think you will discover a bit more. And, spoiler alert, this link here (https://whoisstraka.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/the-eotvos-wheel-and-the-chapter-10-cipher/) will tell you outright how one message is obtained using the code wheel. I personally think there is more than one and those are yet to be discovered. Good luck in the class and post back any questions or comments.
st patricks day shirt toddler boy said:
Wow! Thank you! I continuously wanted to write on my site something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my website?
Brian Shipman said:
Of course! Just send me a link to your site as well and I will be happy to link back.
adu banteng said:
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It’s always useful to read through articles from other authors and use something from other websites.
Debt Collectors in India said:
I delight in, cause I discovered exactly what I was having a look for.
You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day.
Bye
Giacomo Cillari said:
I have a couple of questions: first, when did Jen get graduated? As suddensly Eric starts to talk to her as she took degree… Second one, where did Jen find the orignal handwritten copy of Ship of Theseus? as even here suddenly she starts to compare “our” book with the original one, to find out paragraphs added by FXC that may contain codex or other infomation. I have to explain that I am reading the italian book, hope they didn’t miss these information in translation, and that I am still reading blue and black notes, first draft. Thanks to everyone can help me understand this not so fundamental issue.
VRI Video Remote Interpreting said:
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eddie said:
Am I too late to the party? I’m just waiting for my book to get here. I’m very excited to read it
Brian Shipman said:
Never too late. We need fresh eyes. Plenty of buried treasure still out there.
Aisling Withershyn said:
Dear Eddie: i am late to the party too. I just finished the text read thru of S only and am starting on the margin notes. I will tell you. It has been a struggle. I am still trying to just understand the story. Like what happened.. On a basic level i feel like i read a whole mystery book about a character who has amnesia and i still dont understand a single thing about who he is and whether anything anything i read was real… a dream… an illness induced coping mechanism. Good luck. ‘
And my question to anyone here…, is there a simple chapter by chapter synopsis i can read without reference to clues or margin story, so i can refresh my memory of the main characters journey… ? i have more questions than answers …help?
TheDragonOfFlame said:
How do I make my own forum post?
Brian Shipman said:
This a blog that I manage. All posts are mine, but I have in the past posted on behalf of others. You can email me (see About page) and I’ll be happy to consider what you want posted.