The Book of the New Sun

[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?

[Wok the One Eyed]

its poetry in prose form

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Wok the One Eyed

its poetry in prose form

That's not a bad assessment. I think it's got considerably more narrative structure than most prose-poetic pieces, but that's a very apt description of Wolfe's writing on these... it helps to build the world we're entering, which is a very unique one in many ways...

[Frozeninja]

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 felt much the same way you did going through the majority of the book. Both the first and the second part, for the longest time I couldn't figure out whether the book was bad or brilliant.

Eventually I settled on brilliant.

[Yunalesca]

I had to start the New Sun series a couple of times before I actually managed to read it all the way through. The style definitely takes some getting used to, but I personally think he's a fantastic writer in terms of the quality of his writing. It is dense at times, but I think once you read to the end of the series (including The Urth of the New Sun) you should hopefully find it rewarding...

I can't think of many writers who are so good at introducing their world without info dumping, and he really does know how to construct a beautiful sentence.

[GOLLUM]

Couldn't have put it better myself.....

[Wok the One Eyed]

i have read and re-read this series and i still enjoy it and find new things to mull over. it is a very rich read indeed.

[Yunalesca]

I think rich just about sums them up

And because of the cyclical nature of the works, and of the writing, these are the sort of books you have to immerse yourself in, and come back to.

[Inkreator]

I remmember the first time I've read it... it was so long ago, almost 6 years. Yet I can never forget the face of Undinas, the smell of ancient books from Ultan's library and the night light of a green Luna. Wolfe is a creator of wonders. He confounds me with this work of art... cynic, optimistic, realistic, altruistic... he mixed all of these perks/qualities in one person (and some more), and Severian survieved. Haha, how I loved especialy the book "Urth of the New Sun". He is the Sleeper. My god, I miss his works and refined words. I'm gonna go now and settle down with a mug of apple tea and read it once again and I will smile for it is good.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Wok the One Eyed

i have read and re-read this series and i still enjoy it and find new things to mull over. it is a very rich read indeed.

That's the case with all of Gene's work though....

[colmywaykurtz]

I will definitely read The Book of the New Sun again sometime. I could feel the presence of layers of meaning in it that I didn't get the first time around, guaranteeing I'd want to come back to it.

Inkreator, you make it sound as though Wolfe has died. Hopefully, not?

[iansales]

He's just had a new book published - Pirate Freedom.

[Snowdog]

The blurb sounds like an ERB story. I don't expect it to read like that though...

[GOLLUM]

Sounds good, glad you posted ian..

[iansales]

I went off Wolfe with the Book of the Short Sun. The Book of the New Sun is a classic, as is The Fifth Head of Cerberus... but I've never liked his short fiction, and I've found it hard to get excited about his recent novels.