Gene Wolfe

Post by **Holsety** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:53 pm

Mortice Root wrote:So, I read Book of the New Sun for the first time earlier this year, and am currently halfway through Wizard Knight. I gotta say, I'm really impressed. BotNS was easily the most challenging thing I've ever read. It was the only book I can remember reading and recognizing that I was missing a large chunk of what was happening while I was reading it. (I mean, with good books, I usually discover new things on a second or third reading, but ....wow). And while Wizard Knight seems a little less complex (so far at least) it's equally as enjoyable. I find I'm not always forming the same kind of emotional investment in the stories as I do with, say, SRD, but Wolfe's stuff is always fascinating to me.

So a couple of questions:

1- Is Wolfe always this good?

2- Does he always use this type of "not-quite-reliable" first person narrator, or did I just happen to find two series where he does?

I love the fact that the lack or reliability is different though. With Able, I get the sense that he doesn't get what's going on anymore than I do. With Severain though, I got the impression that he knew exactly what was happening, he just didn't choose to always tell me.

As far as narrators, Patera Silk at least comes across as a reliable narrator. I believe that people have come up with examples of how he isn't...but the series reads a lot more like a "normal" book series. If that makes any sense.

Post by **Mortice Root** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:07 pm

It does make sense. Thanks for the info. But.... Which book is Patera Silk in?

Post by **Holsety** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:41 pm

The Book of Long Sun. The first book is Nightside the Long Sun, but I believe the edition still in print is Litany of the Long sun, a 2 book omnibus much like Shadow and Claw is for the New Sun series.

Post by **Mortice Root** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:45 pm

Very cool. Thanks, Holsety.

Post by **Tjol** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:15 am

Holsety wrote:The Book of Long Sun. The first book is Nightside the Long Sun, but I believe the edition still in print is Litany of the Long sun, a 2 book omnibus much like Shadow and Claw is for the New Sun series.

Might you offer a synopsis of what the Long Sun series is about?

Also is the epilogue book of the new sun series worth reading?

Post by **Holsety** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:23 pm

Tjol wrote:
Holsety wrote:The Book of Long Sun. The first book is Nightside the Long Sun, but I believe the edition still in print is Litany of the Long sun, a 2 book omnibus much like Shadow and Claw is for the New Sun series.
Might you offer a synopsis of what the Long Sun series is about?

Also is the epilogue book of the new sun series worth reading?

Do you mean urth of the sun or new sun or something?

As for the long sun series, I guess I'd put it like this:
Silk is a young and faithful priest in charge of a small parish (the books have another word for it but I don't recall what it is) in Viron, a city in "The Whorl." (his world) A mysterious deity named the "outsider", new to his pantheon of gods, calls on silk to save his parish from a crime lord who's bought the property out. As the book continues, he gains influence in the church as the gods continue to favor him with appearances in the church's windows, and he eventually leads a following against the current governing system. As the book continues, the truths of the history of his society, his religion, and the true purpose of "the whorl" are revealed.

It's actually sci-fi, but this isn't immediately apparent. I have also tried to cut out some details and stay consistent to the euphemisms the book uses.

Post by **Mortice Root** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:17 pm

Tjol said

Also is the epilogue book of the new sun series worth reading?

Meaning "Urth of the New Sun", correct?

I would say yes, it is. It is a little different, stylistically, than the rest of the New Sun series, and actually, was a little easier read. (But then so are most things.) I didn't think it was quite as good as the rest of the New Sun series, but I'd give the original series a 10 out of 10, and Urth probably an 8. Still very good, just not outstanding.

Post by **Holsety** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:04 am

Mortice Root wrote:Tjol said
Also is the epilogue book of the new sun series worth reading?
Meaning "Urth of the New Sun", correct?

I would say yes, it is. It is a little different, stylistically, than the rest of the New Sun series, and actually, was a little easier read. (But then so are most things.) I didn't think it was quite as good as the rest of the New Sun series, but I'd give the original series a 10 out of 10, and Urth probably an 8. Still very good, just not outstanding.

Just to say, I don't know what exact number I would assign the long sun series but I also prefer the book of new sun. Yet it is certainly a very good book (as I see it).

The only wolfe books I never really got into were the wizard knight books.

Post by **[Syl]** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:16 pm

New Sun - 10
Long Sun - 8 (possibly higher if it weren't for the last two books. I blame it on Horn)
Short Sun - 7

Wizard Knight - 9
Latro - 9 (except for Soldier of Sidon, which gets a 7)

Post by **Caer Bombadil** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:54 pm

Anyone know what's up with Ranjit Bhatnagar's Urth/Whorl mailing list? I was once a member before the merger & transition, & I'd been fitfully lurking & considering rejoining. However, since about the beginning of March, the "new" post-9-2004 archive appears to be offline; attempts to reach return a "404" error.

His blogs & news in the urth.net domain and moonmilk.com give no hint of anything special going on. For a short while, they went offline & "refused connection" too, but that seems to have cleared up. He has not answered an email.

Anyone know any Urth list news or plans? I certainly hope Ranjit (or the system admin) isn't pulling the plug & losing the archive without giving anyone else the opportunity to take it over.

Update: Apparently this was a temporary situation RB has now corrected. The site is fully back online now.

Post by **Avatar** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:42 pm

Oh, hey! This reminds me. I finally found The Citadel of the Autarch, completing my New Sun collection.

--A

Post by **AjK** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:57 pm

Tjol wrote:Also is the epilogue book of the new sun series worth reading?

I agree with Mortis Root's assessment. If you enjoyed the first four books then I would fully recommend it. As before key information is often revealed subtly and with little dwell time. However, certain things in the first four books that require assumptions or stretched deductions (IMHO) to make sense of are spelled out or at least have more insight provided into them in this book. Remember to keep your eye on your watch and your calendar, LOL. Like the series a reread (or two) was also enlightening for me. Too much Severian is never enough!

Post by **AjK** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:01 pm

Avatar wrote:Oh, hey! This reminds me. I finally found The Citadel of the Autarch, completing my New Sun collection.

--A

Congratulations Avatar! Have you read it yet & if so did you like it? Personally I felt it had quite a different feel than the first three. Regardless, enjoy!

Post by **wayfriend** » Tue May 07, 2019 1:27 pm

For some reason, I had not heard that Gene Wolfe had passed away on April 14. He was 87.

I admired the way he could weave a story together. It was not so much "gripping" as it was "enticing". He could suck a reader in.

Post by **Avatar** » Thu May 09, 2019 5:39 am

Sad news, but a good innings I guess. Maybe the first "surrealist" sci-fi writer I ever read. (The Island of Doctor Death & Other Stories and Other Stories.)

Severian probably one of the best sci-fi/fantasy characters ever.

--A

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Gene Wolfe