Category Archives: Gene Wolfe

Neil Gaiman on Gene Wolfe

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In today’s Guardian, Neil Gaiman talks about Gene Wolfe:

I was a young journalist, and I asked for and was given an interview with Wolfe. I do not know what I expected, but whatever I imagined the author of those glittering, dangerous stories to have been, I was not expecting the genial gentleman I met. He was a former potato crisp engineer and magazine editor, and he reminded me of a sweeter-natured, rotunder Sergeant Bilko. Oddly, perhaps, given the difference in our ages and temperaments, we became friends. And now, almost 30 years later, we are still friends and I am still a fan.

The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe

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The Citadel of the Autarch, the last of Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun, end with a whimper, not a bang. After the travels of Severian in the first three books, I expected that the finale would wrap up his story and tie things together. But there were many loose ends not resolved and much that was left unexplained. Overall, I enjoyed the series, but it was a little frustrating. I tend to blame myself, as it’s not exactly the type of book I enjoy.

I apologize for not being able to do a full review, but I’m not sure I could do a good enough job explaining the book. My main problem with the book is that Severian is the hero and main character, but everything seems to happen to him without action on his part. A large part of the series involves Severian wandering around and something happens to him. When Severian gives Thecla the knife early in the first book, it is an action taken by Severian when he knows the consequences and makes a decision. It is also one of the last times in the series where he does this. Most everything else Severian does is either following what someone else is doing or following the Guild rules. It is a frustrating experience to watch the protagonist wander around and rarely initiate the action.

The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe

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It’s time for Book Three of Gene Wolfe’s masterpiece The Book of the New Sun, The Sword of the Lictor. As we get closer to the end of the story, the action starts picking up and the story seems to circle back upon itself. I’m curious as to what happens to Severian and his world. So, let’s see what’s happening?

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The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe

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I’m back to Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun. I finished volume one and realized that I had another book that was due back to the library very soon and couldn’t renew it. So I finished that book before jumping back to the tales of Severian the journeyman executioner and The Claw of the Conciliator. Volume Two picks up almost right after Volume One and we find Serverian alone away from his group and in a new city. Let’s find out what happens.

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The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe

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I’ve heard a lot about Gene Wolfe over the years, but I’ve never read anything from him. I’ve heard several modern writers (including Neil Gaiman) praise Wolfe as being one of their favorite writers as well as their inspiration for becoming authors. So, I decided to start reading Wolfe with his best known work, The Shadow of the Torturer (Book one of The Book of the New Sun). The book split into four volumes, but currently is collected in two books (each collecting two volumes). Now, one thing to realize before starting, the books are very linked together and when you finish The Shadow of the Torturer, the story abruptly ends, waiting to be picked up in Volume 2, The Claw of the Conciliator. So who is the titular torturer?

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