where do I astart with Gene Wolfe?

thanks

quote:

Originally posted by slothflyer:
where do I astart with Gene Wolfe?

Maybe with the search function, which pulls up the Gene Wolfe thread.

I've only read a few books, but I'd say you could start pretty much anywhere.

I know this thread is dead, but I am surprised how there is so little Wolfe in this board, considering NG's appreciation for the old man.

To start with Gene Wolfe, the best option, as with Neil, are the short stories. That will let you get used to his dry, ironic tone, mastery of language and love of meta-literature and plot twists.

Then, the best novel for Gaiman lovers would be Soldier of the Mist, because it is the most fantastic and accesible. Although it still has a very complex underlying structure when you realize the narrator may be lying to himself, so he is lying to the reader, a common aspect in many Wolfe works.

There are two more books in that series, Soldier of Arete and Soldier of Sidon, the last one published some moths ago but giving the impression it was written from notes made ten years ago.

Then there is The Wizard and The Knight. Many of Wolfe themes, in a simpler package, and with less of a theological message despite the plentiful divine figures.

The final objective is tackling the Book of the New Sun and its spin-offs, but it helps to know where you are getting into.