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On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes wrote:
But notice that Wolfe, while he write about stories being told, telling themselves, etc., never (AFAIK) does the kind of metafictional introduction of himself that Barth does
Alec, may I refer you to "The Last Thrilling Wonder Story" or
"The Sister's Tale"?
No, no, no. The author who threatens the hero in "Wonder Story" is just another character, he's not Gene Wolfe himself. It's a story about a writer whose story gets away from him. Wolfe is obviously on the side of the hero. Would Gene Wolfe be angry at one of his characters for praying? And retaliate by throwing the devil at him?
It's a very different feel from, say, Breakfast of Champions, where Vonnegut really inserts himself into the story, imagines a conversation with his protagonist, considers the idea that he, Kurt Vonnegut, is responsible for what happens to his characters, and tells us how he feels about it.
Alas, I don't remember "The Sister's Tale." Which collection is it in?
-Rostrum