let it be, let it be

Reusch · 16 Apr 1997, 07:50 · from urth-v0001.mbox · original

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From: Reusch <newsun at freeway.net>
Subject: (urth) let it be, let it be
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 97 07:50:36
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[Posted from URTH, a mailing list about Gene Wolfe's New Sun and other work=
s]

OK, TBoTNS was a *wonderful* book, but I can't help feeling that, with=20
Mantis' excellent Lexicon, and all of the time and discussion which has=20
revolved about it, it's being hashed to death. Why do we all continue to=20
read Wolfe's books, the same book several times? Because each time we=20
find another question, or the answer to a previous mystery. That's what=20
makes it interesting. I, for one, would like to see a few mysteries=20
remain in TBotNS. Let's open this up to include some of Wolfe's=20
less-discussed, more obscure works.=20

Like Castleview! The first time that I read this book, I remember=20
thinking that reading each chapter was like watching an episode of Twin=20
Peaks. You had no idea what just happened, or what was just about to=20
happen. The second time through, I thought that I had a handle on it, up=20
until the final scene in front of the castle. Can someone enlighten me,=20
considering that I don't know much more of the Arthurian mythos than does=20
Hollywood?

And how about Peace? I've read the book several times without penetrating=20
past the notion that it's more or less a collection of short stories=20
which are in some way tied to the memories/fantasies of the dead or dying=20
central character, sort of like Bradbury's Illustrated Man. What am I=20
missing?

Well, I can't help but throw one question/observation out about Urth of=20
the New Sun. The writing style of this books starts out dramatically=20
different than the four which precede it. Has anyone noticed this, or=20
thought why? At first I thought that it was just less polished by Wolfe,=20
but now I wonder. A different author? Severian 1, or Severian 2?  Any=20
thoughts on this one?

Vance

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