From: Reusch <newsun@freeway.net>
Subject: (urth) let it be, let it be
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 97 07:50:36 


[Posted from URTH, a mailing list about Gene Wolfe's New Sun and other works]

OK, TBoTNS was a *wonderful* book, but I can't help feeling that, with 
Mantis' excellent Lexicon, and all of the time and discussion which has 
revolved about it, it's being hashed to death. Why do we all continue to 
read Wolfe's books, the same book several times? Because each time we 
find another question, or the answer to a previous mystery. That's what 
makes it interesting. I, for one, would like to see a few mysteries 
remain in TBotNS. Let's open this up to include some of Wolfe's 
less-discussed, more obscure works. 

Like Castleview! The first time that I read this book, I remember 
thinking that reading each chapter was like watching an episode of Twin 
Peaks. You had no idea what just happened, or what was just about to 
happen. The second time through, I thought that I had a handle on it, up 
until the final scene in front of the castle. Can someone enlighten me, 
considering that I don't know much more of the Arthurian mythos than does 
Hollywood?

And how about Peace? I've read the book several times without penetrating 
past the notion that it's more or less a collection of short stories 
which are in some way tied to the memories/fantasies of the dead or dying 
central character, sort of like Bradbury's Illustrated Man. What am I 
missing?

Well, I can't help but throw one question/observation out about Urth of 
the New Sun. The writing style of this books starts out dramatically 
different than the four which precede it. Has anyone noticed this, or 
thought why? At first I thought that it was just less polished by Wolfe, 
but now I wonder. A different author? Severian 1, or Severian 2?  Any 
thoughts on this one?

Vance