I’ve read quite a bit of science fiction in my time. I’ve never heard of this guy. Just looked him up — never heard of any of his books. The “Melville” of science fiction? I don’ know ‘bout that.
The “Melville” of science fiction? I don’ know ‘bout that.
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He’s better. Much better.
The Book of the New Sun:
The Shadow of the Torturer (1980)
The Claw of the Conciliator (1981)
The Sword of the Lictor (1982)
The Citadel of the Autarch (1983)
The Urth of the New Sun (1987)
The Book of the Long Sun:
Nightside the Long Sun (1993)
Lake of the Long Sun (1994)
Caldé of the Long Sun (1994)
Exodus From the Long Sun (1996)
The Book of the Short Sun:
On Blue’s Waters (1999)
In Green’s Jungles (2000)
Return to the Whorl (2001)
Lexicon Urthus: Michael Andre-Druissi (Sirius Fiction, 1994) , a dictionary of the archaic words used by Wolfe in The Book of the New Sun
Gate of Horn, Book of Silk: A Guide to Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun: Michael Andre-Driussi (Sirius Fiction, 2012
Patrick O’Leary has credited Wolfe for inspiration. He has said: “Forget ‘Speculative Fiction.’ Gene Wolfe was the best writer alive. Period. And as Wolfe once said, ‘All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it.’ No comparison. Nobody - I mean nobody - comes close to what this artist does.”
Ursula K. Le Guin is frequently quoted on the jackets of Wolfe’s books as having said “Wolfe is our Melville.”
Harlan Ellison, reviewing The Shadow of the Torturer, wrote: “Gene Wolfe is engaged in the holy chore of writing every other author under the table. He is no less than one of the finest, most original writers in the world today. His work is singular, hypnotizing, startlingly above comparison.
“The Shadow of the Torturer breaks new ground in American literature and, as the first novel of a tetralogy, casts a fierce light on what will certainly be a lodestone landmark, his most stunning work to date. It is often said, but never more surely than this time: This book is not to be missed at peril of one’s intellectual enrichment.”
Wolfe is seriously worth your time. He’s not exactly an easy read, but that’s what makes his work so interesting. You’ll find yourself having to take side trips to look things up.