I have news from Gene Wolfe and I'm simply going to quote it direct.
Says Gene: "You asked how Short Sun was shining. Pretty brightly at this point, particularly if David Hartwell buys it. (Threatening letters may help.) I have told him that by the end of June I should be through with the second draft of the third book, RETURN TO THE WHORL. As of today that looks pretty good; a little bit optimistic, but only a little. I'll do the final drafts of the first book then, and hope to have it ready this fall. The chief cloud on that horizon is that we're going to Readercon in July, to the Worldcon in August, and to the World Fantasy Convention in October. Biggers clouds will soon appear--they always do."
Lupines inclined to write can reach Dave Hartwell c/o TOR; Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.;175 Fifth Avenue; New York, NY 10010.