Why Is Gene Wolfe Kicking My Behind?

[barsoomcore]

So I'm almost finished the first book of Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, The Shadow of the Torturer.

Which was first published in what, 1981? 1980?

Holy crap. How did I not hear of this until now? I mean, I'd heard of Gene Wolfe. Steven Brust kept saying how great he was, but I don't recall ever seeing one of his books in a bookstore until just recently.

This guy's amazing. I mean, this book is blowing my mind. And it's been sitting out there for twenty-three years. Crazy.

Wolfe has just joined my "Modern Masters of Fantasy" list -- which up to now has only included Glen Cook and Steven Brust (with Steven Erikson as a potential candidate depending on how The Malazan Book of the Fallen goes). He's staggeringly good. Great prose stylist, mind-bending world, real honest-to-goodness philosophy and a story that won't quit.

Okay, maybe I'm getting all excited after only one book. Anyone else who can chime in here? Has there been some conspiracy to keep this from me all this time? Why isn't this guy super-famous?

Okay, I could ask that about Glen Cook, Steven Brust and Steven Erikson, too. Being on my list is obviously no guarantee of popularity. But honestly.

Anyway, if you're casting about for something worth your time -- Wolfe's got it. Hoo boy.

 

[Krug]

Well Wolfe is pretty famous. I am a big fan of his Book of the New Sun series as well. Will try to find some time to pick up The Knight.

 

[takyris]

Welcome to the sadly somewhat-exclusive "Have read Gene Wolfe" club.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

I've read his new-long-short sun arc, and I agree he is amazing.

I think his books aren't more popular simply because they aren't light fare. you really have to have your head in it, not just parsing the text but also in trying to figure out what's really going on as critical details are often only mentioned obliquely. For this reason I've heard some call him a writer's writer -- his are certainly the type of books you could show to snob friends if you are in one of those old "can SF/fantasy ever be real literature" arguments.

For this reason his books really stand up to re-reading. I'm holding off on The Knight just so I can get The Wizard at the same time.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Terminus Est has got to be one of the coolest names for a weapon in any book (source of the Mercury Fullblade from Sword & Fist.)

Try to find is book Castle of the Otter as well. (The title came from one of the more imaginative ways someone managed to massacre the title Citadel of the Autarch...) I read them as the were coming out. He is a great fantasist, but not widely distributed. As for his collabaration with Niel Gaiman in the Walking Guide to the Shambles... you need a fairly strange sense of humour to get the most out of it, but if you do find Chaz Addams Edward Gorey, or Gahan Wilson funny you will love it! (Or at least I do.)

The Auld Grump

 

[Wombat]

I have read through The Book of the New Sun series three times; intense, fascinating, and constantly on the edge of memories. Whenever I read the stories-within-stories I try to tease out all the threads within them -- here is a bit of Greek mythology, there a bit of American history, finally a bit of a Victorian novel meshed with a bit of scientific lore.

I love these books intensely.

The Book of the Long Sun series is also good, though not quite as "fresh" for me -- I need to get around to The Book of the Short Sun to complete the journey

Free, write free!

 

[Chaldfont]

These books are great. I love books that challenge my vocabulary. I was very amused to find out that Pelagic Argosy (what I thought was a very cool name for a ship) meant simply, "Ocean-going ship".

And who wasn't creeped out by the Alzabo?

 

[ShadowX]

He is on my reading list but no libraries around here carry the books and I haven't seen them in local bookstores.

 

[argo]

This guy's amazing. I mean, this book is blowing my mind. And it's been sitting out there for twenty-three years. Crazy.

If that's the case I'd hate to be the one to clean up the mess after you finish the rest of the series

Wolfe has just joined my "Modern Masters of Fantasy" list -- which up to now has only included Glen Cook and Steven Brust (with Steven Erikson as a potential candidate depending on how The Malazan Book of the Fallen goes).

Good list. Maybe add David Eddings as well.

 

[MarauderX]

Anyway, if you're casting about for something worth your time -- Wolfe's got it. Hoo boy.

I can't plug Wolfe enough now, and I only got started a year ago. I am thinking of trying something else in the genre from the same publisher to find a similar writer; any recommendations?