Gene Wolfe Forum

Gene Wolfe

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I like him, but he hides the ball too much.

>>By Stepher (Sunday, 27 Jul 2003 20:42)

Just finished the first two books of the New Sun tetralogy, and while I had to plog through the archaic and never-before-encountered words, he has been interesting enough so far that I'm planning to move on to the other two books...

>>By Corum (Friday, 7 Nov 2003 13:53)

Have read The New Suns, the Short Suns, Soldier of the Mist, heaps of short stories, I rate him among the best SciFantasy ever, great depth of character & detail. (You need "the archaic and never-before-encountered words," they're what make the stories ring true.)

>>By flamencoprof (Saturday, 29 Nov 2003 17:26)

The Knight is truly extraordinary, and much easier reading than the majority of his novels. The depth is still there if you look for it, but the act of just comprehending the story line is easier than in his previous books

>>By PaulBaxter (Friday, 26 Mar 2004 20:57)

Riddles and mysteries within answers--not the other way around. Reading Wolfe is like peeling an onion layer by layer only to find an artichoke at it's core. As I love both, I love Wolfe. The work is worth it. If you want rocket ships crewed by big breasted, over-sexed astro-nymphs (not that there's anything wrong with that), stear away from Gene Wolfe because he'll give you a headache and send you right back to your mommy and that worn copy of whatever marshmellow, soft-core sci-fi you were weaned on.

Leave sci-fi and fantasy on the night stand for a moment and consider Wolfe as Writer. In my opinion, and many others, he ranks with the very best contemporary, and near-contemporary fictionalists. For all the best reasons: depth of characters, story, setting, prose, and, and.... Did I mention depth?

Some are sceptical of this evaluation because he lacks the sense of momentum and climax that seems to be expected in any "successful" fictional work these days. That's precisely why he is so good, he isn't always predictable.

>>By creekside dreamer (Monday, 4 Apr 2005 23:02)

Gene Wolfe's "The Wizard Knight" books are EXCELLENT. So often I see "The best fantasy since Tolkien" printed on novels, "The Wizard Knight" is the only one that lives up to that claim.

>>By Vellocet (Monday, 7 Apr 2008 04:18)

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