Book of the New Sun -- Severian's mother

Allan Terry · 30 Mar 1987, 21:18 · from sf-lovers.1987.mbox

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From: aterry at teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA (Allan Terry)
Subject: Re: Book of the New Sun -- Severian's mother
Date: 30 Mar 87 21:18:27 GMT
Message-ID: <sflovers-v12-120-10 at digest.sf-lovers>
X-Digest-Issue: SF-LOVERS Digest V12 #120
X-Urthmirror-Source: https://archive.org/details/sf-lovers-digest-vol-12a

> Is there anyone else out there willing, as I am, to make the claim
> that this four-volume novel is the crowning achievement of
> S(peculative)F(iction)?  I read these as they came out, and
> thought highly of them; but when I re-read them in one sitting
> earlier in the year, I (figuratively) saw God.

YES! YES! The Book of the New Sun is one of the best books I ever
read.  I hold this up to anybody else's favorite literature.  I
generally feel this way about most of Wolfe's work (ever read
Peace?), but this is his best.  This book has so much depth and
texture that you could read it dozens of times and still be
surprised.

How could anybody keep everything so knit together over four volumes
and several years of writing them?  Everything ties in with
everything else.  I love the way he gives an explanation of parts of
his world the way science fiction writers do, but then gives
different and contradictory explanations later.  Nothing neat and
tidy, more like life.  I love the historical feel to his society far
in our future.  The terminology sounds roman, the journey sounds
like a Midaevel pilgrimage, yet when people dig they find layer upon
layer of prior civilizations.  I love his passion for telling
strange little stories (and the translated story of the Ascian is a
marvel).  Where else in SF have you seen an honest-to-God
hagiography?  I love his jokes, like the Frankenstein turnabout.  Or
Severian's guild: the Seekers for Truth and Penitence, commonly
known as the Torturers.  But mostly I just like the writing.  It
takes a master to bring a reader to the logical acceptance of
Volodius' alzebo feast or to bring the reader to appreciate that
Severian is an excellent carnifex, one who is part of a rich
tradition and who honestly plies his craft.  I can't recommend it
more highly.  Besides, the cover of the first book is sure fire to
get you a seat by yourself on a crowded Muni bus.

My question back is did anybody else feel a jar in Severian's
attitude about women?  He has a certain detachment for people and
for his own body--I suppose necessary in his line of work, or for
somebody en route to "higher things".  I can also understand that
women were not part of his upbringing.  Still, he seems too casual
about Dorcas and her feelings.  Why is he so hung up on Agila (sp?)
considering her feelings back?  He screws around but his heart does
not seem to be in it.  I have not quite figured out what Wolfe was
doing with this part of Severian's character.

Allan

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