Gene Wolfe’s tetralogy The Book of the New Sun is every bit as epic as Lord of the Rings, and perhaps even more creative. It follows the life of Severian who is exiled from the Torturers Guild for showing mercy and who, as he says, “backs into the throne.”
Wolfe’s story is set a million years in the future, far enough that the line between magic and technology is difficult to discern. The geo-political setting is that of the eleventh-century Byzantine empire, complete with a war with something that serves as a foil for Islam (as well as communism).
I could go on, but I’m not writing this entry to review the whole book or series (I’m saddened that FantasyLiterature.net only sticks to Gene Wolfe’s more recent material at the moment). I’m writing to brag that I found the version of the hardback that I “loaned” out in Oklahoma and never got back. I have now replaced it. Yay me!
I may celebrate by re-reading the series.
FYI, here is an unofficial fan page, and here is the blog that goes with it.
Lovely. I just got _Starwater Strains_ from the library. Must re-read New Sun sometime; I still feel like I don’t understand it, despite reading it twice as well as various analyses of it. So far I’d have to say I favor the Long Sun/Short Sun books, if only because they’ve got a more coherent universe and narrative. I suspect there’s a lot more I could get out of New Sun (but hey, it’s a Wolfe book, so that goes without saying).
(Also just got _Three Days To Never_ — why did I ever stop going to the library?)
I re-read that a few months ago, and honestly found it tough to force myself to finish the book. I just could not get to a point where I cared about Severian enough to read his life story.
Hard cover- I’m jealous. I never understood my the cloak on the cover has the pajama colored inner lining. Great series though.
Allen, I wasn’t thrilled with 3 Days though I’m not sure why. Pacing? Too much explained yet not enough? I somehow just didn’t find it as involving as, say, Declare, which I thought was amazing.
I didn’t know about Starwater Strains. I had to look it up.
Chris, that might happen to me too. I read it in high school (you too?) and then once again after college and loved discovering a lot of great things about it that I didn’t notice in high school.
But, it is slow moving. And I actually never liked the additional book, Urth of the New Sun. What happened is that Wolfe eventually wrote The Book of the Long Sun which move a lot faster and linked back to the New Sun Tetrology.
But, no matter what, every time I saw the three books on my shelf without the first, it hurt. I had to fix that.
Link fixed to FantasyLiterature.Net
Hi Mark,
Just want to let you know that we DO review older stuff, we just haven’t gotten around to getting it all done. It’s my goal to eventually have everything reviewed. This series has been on my TBR list for a long time!!
If you’d like to review it for us, I’ll post it and link to your blog.
Kat
http://www.FanLit.net
Kat, sorry to be so overly broad in my comment. I guess I was thinking the target of my link would narrow my meaning… but that was dumb. Anyway, I edited the text to reflect my meaning and to not mislead people about your great site.
And yes, I’d love to get a piece of that greatness. Thank you! I’ll be in touch.
Okay, I’ll make a note of it on that page: guest review coming soon. I’m looking forward to it!
I have just started Janny Wurts’ huge epic. So far I’m enjoying it. I’ve also been corresponding with her, which has been fun and informative. She also lives in Florida and we’ve recently interviewed her. Here’s the link for any of your readers who are looking for another big grand epic (that was redundant). BTW, she’s out of print here while she finds a new US publisher, but recently released a new book in the UK: http://www.fantasyliterature.net/WurtsJanny.html
Kat