A Question

James Wynn · 16 Jun 2007, 05:00 · from 2007-June.txt.gz

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From: crushtv at gmail.com (James Wynn)
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:00:47 -0500
Subject: (urth) A Question
References: <667793.88044.qm at web81408.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <009e01c7afd3$4e37aba0$140d000a at its.verizon.com>

I read "New Sun" first. I came away from it convinced that Wolfe was a phenominal creator of worlds but only a so-so writer. I thought that because:

1. Wolfe failed to make clear and/or resolve key plot elements by the end of the book.

2. Wolfe would go into great detail describing something Severian's childhood relationship with a dog or enjoying quiet-time in a mausoleum and then relate the death of the alzabo in a single sentence.

Now, of course, I realize these complaints are like criticizing Rock&Roll music because "it could lead to dancing". The next Wolfe story I read was "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" and suddenly I "got it". At that point I began telling people that Wolfe was THE finest science fiction writer period.

So I don't know where to start with Wolfe. Probably, a recommendation from a someone you trust is the best introduction to Wolfe.

J
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Stuart Hamm 
  To: The Urth Mailing List 
  Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 6:05 PM
  Subject: (urth) A Question

  Hey Evryone,I have a question for you all...
  I have a couple of good friends I want to turn on to GW, what is a good strting point? Don't want to scare them off to soon...
  I'm thinking "Strang Travelers" or "The ISland..." ,or should I just give them Shadow and Claw and be done with it???

  Stuart
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