The Book of the New Sun

[GOLLUM]

OH Yes I'm a big Wolfe fan too. I loved Book Of The New Sun. It's one of his best works to date.

It's generally regarded as the greatest Science Fantasy novel to date.

You're right about Gene. All of his works have to be read more than once, otherwise you'll never get it completely.

[Connavar]

Greatest Science Fantasy novel ? Wow when there is Dune and a couple Dying Earth Vance novels....


I read in some forum that Book of the New Sun is also Hard SF ? Is that true ? How does that work in Science Fantasy or is the Science Fantasy part only the setting ?

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Greatest Science Fantasy novel ? Wow when there is Dune and a couple Dying Earth Vance novels....


I read in some forum that Book of the New Sun is also Hard SF ? Is that true ? How does that work in Science Fantasy or is the Science Fantasy part only the setting ?

Well of course Dune is a great book but I have to say Gene's New Sun is even better and for me more Hard SF than New Sun. I would never have really viewed New Sun as Hard SF, I find that a misleading tag to use. No, it really is Science Fantasy and soft SF if anything. SFantasy is basically elements of science and fantasy combined so it can be certain elements as well as the story itself I presume. Robert Silverberg's Majipoor novels, which I highly recommend, are another example of science fantasy.

You know that New Sun along with LOTR and The Hobbit were voted amongst the most influential or significant SFF novels of the 20th Century. Only a poll from the public as I recall but just to give you an idea.

Cheers...

[Connavar]

Good to know about the Hard SF thing.


Im what omphalos called a rabid fan of JV so New Sun would have to be amazing to impress me Science Fantasy wise

[iansales]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

You know that New Sun along with LOTR and The Hobbit were voted amongst the most influential or significant SFF novels of the 20th Century. Only a poll from the public as I recall but just to give you an idea.

Which poll was this? Tolkien's books have mainstream appeal, but I wouldn't have thought the Book of the New Sun - no matter how well regarded - would have as many fans outside the genre. In fact, after LotR, I'd have said Dune was the most likely genre novel to score highly in a poll of the general public. There was a film of it, after all. And there's going to be another soon. The Book of the New Sun has never been adapted.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by iansales

Which poll was this? Tolkien's books have mainstream appeal, but I wouldn't have thought the Book of the New Sun - no matter how well regarded - would have as many fans outside the genre. In fact, after LotR, I'd have said Dune was the most likely genre novel to score highly in a poll of the general public. There was a film of it, after all. And there's going to be another soon. The Book of the New Sun has never been adapted.

I thought that strange too, it was on a blurb at the back of the new Severian Guild omnibus edition. I did some digging and came up with the LOCUS poll pre-1990 under the Fantasy category. Dune is NO. 1 under SF.

The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1998 Locus All-Time Poll

[iansales]

Ah. So not a poll of the general public then. Yes, the Book of the New Sun is highly regarded by genre readers, so that's not surprising.

[Connavar]

I thought that was wierd. Mainstream think Harry Potter and LOTR is everything there is to fantasy. Unless there are movies they wouldnt care at all.

It sounded too good that they would know acclaimed fantasy work that didnt sell 100+ mil or had movies.


That genre people rated it so high is much more impressive to me. They know what they are talking.

[Urlik]

Originally Posted by D6Veteran

I just read 'Shadow and Claw: The First Half of the Book of the New Sun' by Gene Wolfe.

It was fairly difficult read, and at times a little boring (and confusing). However I kept turning the pages ...

Funny thing is I can't tell if I liked the book or not. On some levels the story was so unusual and interesting that I am considering reading the second half. On other levels the book was at times a test of endurance and didn't seem to have any plot.

I can't decide if Wolfe's writing (and story telling) is above my head or just insanely poor.

Anyone one else on the board read The Book of the New Sun? Thoughts?

I managed to read the first 4 books of the series and I had a similar feeling as I read every page.

I'll have to dig them out and read them again sometime and then get the fifth book to read after