ian@loral.UUCP (Ian Kaplan) (11/10/84)
While reading some of the repartee concerning Harlan Ellison (including
those oh so sage comments from the oh so ever present Chuq), I saw
several references to Gene Wolfe's four book series, collectively know as
"The Book of the New Sun". There seems to be relatively wide agreement
that these are excellant books. I too have read all four of the New Sun
books, plus most of Wolfe's other books. From this I guess it could be
concluded that I like Wolfe, and it is true. I liked the New Sun books
because of the writing style, Wolfe's descriptions and the action element
of the story. In these books Wolfe has woven an incredibly complex plot
whose central point I hoped would be revealed in the last book.
For me at least, this did not happen and the books remain enigmatic.
In the last few pages of the last New Sun book, "The Citadel of the
Autarch", the new Autarch, whose previous carear we have followed, states
that he is leaving the Book of the New Sun behind on earth and going to
meet the extra-terestrials. While on this flight he will rewrite the
book a second time. Since he has perfect memory, he can reproduce
the book exactly. He says that if you don't understand the book,
read it a second time, just as he is writing it a second time. I have
not done this yet.
Even though the plot of Wolfe's New Sun seems to be only a collection of
strange events, I believe that it is clear that the books contain more.
I just have not discovered it yet. The question I pose to you out in net
land is what ties the events in the book together.
Those of you who believe Wolfe to be such a great writer presumably see
what I have missed. If you don't, I wonder if perhaps you are confusing
Wolfe's obscureness with literary greatness. I like Wolfe, but I am not
yet convienced that he is a great american writer.
Well I hope that this will provide much interesting discussion and
perhaps some enlightenment for
Ian Kaplan
Loral Data Flow Group