Just finished "Shadow of the Torturer"...confused as hell.

Mark Dillon · 05 Apr 1998, 20:33 · from sf-lovers.1998.mbox

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From: dq405 at FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Mark Dillon)
Subject: Re: Just finished "Shadow of the Torturer"...confused as hell.
Date: 5 Apr 1998 20:33:13 GMT
Message-ID: <sflovers-v23-62-11 at digest.sf-lovers>
X-Digest-Issue: SF-LOVERS Digest V23 #62
X-Urthmirror-Source: https://archive.org/details/sf-lovers-digest-vol-23

I've read THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN twice (took detailed notes the second
time). By all means, try it.

I have to admit, though, that I still prefer the work he did in the early
70's: THE FIFTH HEAD OF CERBERUS and stories like "The Death of Doctor
Island," "The Hero as Werewolf," "The Island of Doctor Death and Other
Stories," and "The Changeling" mean far more to me than anything Wolfe has
written since: they have a quiet anger and compassion that have haunted me
for decades, and I reread them constantly. I'd recommend them to anyone,
whereas THE NEW SUN, while admirable, seems more like an interesting
technical exercise designed for habitual SF/ fantasy readers.

But in regards to your question: yes, Wolfe clears up his mysteries and
ties up his loose ends; that fascinating vagueness, those eerie hints
scattered throughout THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER, are all explained away in
great detail. Oh, well....

Mark Dillon

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