Wolfe News--from the Horse's Mouth

Dear Lupes, Happy to report that Gene is well and writing. My wife and I had dinner with him and Rosemary June 8. And received permission to inform you all--this much: Of course you know ON BLUE'S WATERS is due in September. The second Short Sun Book has been turned in--("IN GREEN'S JUNGLE" Correct Title?)--though not yet "bought" by TOR. Gene seems habitually modest/anxious about his work's chances of acceptance--can't imagine why. It's a touching trait, though. The third book "RETURN TO THE WHORL" has been with his agent and copyeditor for two months. He's waiting for their comments/corrections. Once received, he'll fix and send MS. off to TOR. This means the trilogy is All But done. And, barring any major revisions requested by his editor David G. Hartwell (unlikely), The Work is in the pipeline. And there was much rejoicing. Amusing sidenote re: the short sun books: Gene said more or less, "I finally managed to write a trilogy! Having botched it with the New and Long Sun books." Regret that I pressed him very little on his feelings about the Short Sun books. I was too busy examining the Inner Sanctum--his home. Where he writes: in the basement on a fancy typewriter with one of those screens that let you read the last 10 lines you've written. On a long table stacked 2 feet high with books and notes and manuscripts. The low ceiling is plastered with posters--book covers--his--convention posters, stuff. Books everywhere. A tower of manuscripts five feet tall. Awards and memorabilia displayed proudly in the living room. where hangs a lovely painting of Severian and Father Inire (stepping through a secret door)--A gift from an Austrailian artist/fan. The portrait of Severian very close, Gene said, to how he imagined him. Affectionately assaulted by their 2 dogs--Dilly and Calamity Jane. Breaking News: What He's Writing Now... Gene said he was working on a fantasy novel about Knights. (sic) Lots of battles: clashing swords and clanging armor. (sic) He said he was inspired by his seven year old nephew (Now Ten). He confessed, "It's not very good. But I don't care. I'm having a great time." Oh Lupes, it was Swell. Patrick O'Leary *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.

Patrick, Thank you for sharing this report from the front with us. Reading about your dinner with Wolfe, brought home to me the fact that he is a real human being. I mean, sure, I knew this intellectually, but this brought it home on a deeper level. And thinking this, I began to wonder what he thinks of this list (I seem to recall someone here saying that he looks at it, at least occasionally). So, the next time you meet Wolfe, just if you feel like it, you could ask him for me, does he think we're all out of our minds? William Ansley *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.

In a message dated 6/10/99 11:57:32 PM, wansley at warwick.net writes: << So, the next time you meet Wolfe, just if you feel like it, you could ask him for me, does he think we're all out of our minds?

Dear William, et all, Be glad to ask him. But I can hazard a guess: he is immensely flattered. At dinner he mentioned how pleased he was with Mantis's work. (Sorry. Michael--I can't recall the exact words!) And we are, of course, all lower incarnations of the original probing mantis. Hey, this is a man who spends his life trying to give pleasure to readers. Imagine how gratifying it must be to be regarded and analyzed so seriously. If we meant nothing to him he wouldn't be so proud of his tributes and awards. You don't think all those puns, jokes and puzzles are for his private gratification? And, of course, he thinks wer'e out of our minds:) best as always, Patrick *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.