The Snootiness of Gene Wolfe

Mike Ward · 01 Mar 2004, 03:33 · from rec.arts.sf.written.2004.mbox

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From: Mike Ward <m at d.w>
Subject: Re: The Snootiness of Gene Wolfe
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 03:33:23 GMT
Message-ID: <7ay0c.59091$aH3.1821637 at bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
References: <Xns949D9FE6F929Difyouwanttoemailvisi at 199.45.49.11> <j7y-80EFC8.02595529022004 at visonmassif.rs.itd.umich.edu> <Xns949E128161373ifyouwanttoemailvisi at 199.45.49.11> <87r7wdzc7a.fsf at tc-1-100.kawasaki.gol.ne.jp>

Miles Bader <miles at gnu.org> wrote in
news:87r7wdzc7a.fsf at tc-1-100.kawasaki.gol.ne.jp: 

> Josh <if.you.want.to.email at visit.joshbrain.tripod.org> writes:
>> You say this with such feeling that I can't help but believe you. And
>> it highlights the fact that I made a poor inference and expressed it
>> in a too-aggressive manner. Really, I have no idea if Wolfe is
>> Snooty. On further reflection, I believe that his *fans* are Snooty,
>> myself being but one of many, and my primary inspiration for the
>> sweeping indictment. 
> 
> Well I suppose you've aptly demonstrated that point in this thread...
> 
> But the original accusation remains completely silly -- Wolfe's work
> is actually very readable whether or not you bother to figure out what
> everything `means'.  His prose-style in particular is lovely without
> being obscure.
> 

I loved Book of the New Sun even though the entire time I was reading it I 
was thinking this ought to be terrible.  I still don't know why I found it 
so good, but I did.

I can barely remember Urth the the New Sun.  I posted a request for someone 
to remind me what happened in it not long ago. I got my memory jogged a 
bit, but I still can't recall much about or if it was any good or not.

The Fifth Head of Cerberus was absolutely amazing.  I appreciate the fact 
the Wolfe has enough faith in his reader to assume that he can figure it 
out on his own and not have be told point black what's happened.

Perhaps what comes across as snootiness to some is actually the respect 
Wolfe shows his reader by his refusal to dumb down the material.  

Mike

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