The Snootiness of Gene Wolfe

Christopher J. Henrich · 01 Mar 2004, 21:35 · from rec.arts.sf.written.2004.mbox

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From: "Christopher J. Henrich" <chenrich at monmouth.com>
Subject: Re: The Snootiness of Gene Wolfe
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 21:35:35 GMT
Message-ID: <010320041636342186%chenrich at monmouth.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
References: <Xns949D9FE6F929Difyouwanttoemailvisi at 199.45.49.11>

In article <Xns949D9FE6F929Difyouwanttoemailvisi at 199.45.49.11>, Josh
<if.you.want.to.email at visit.joshbrain.tripod.org> wrote:

> I've read a lot of Gene Wolf (the complete Sun and Urth sequences plus a 
> short story collection who's title currently escapes me), generally with 
> great interest, the two Latros novels being a notable exception (I only 
> skimmed the second). Therefore I feel somewhat qualified to make this 
> observation: Mr. Wolfe is a snooty elitist author.
I am surprised that you have read so much of Wolfe if you really
dislike his writing. 
> [snip]
>  Consider that the entire justification for 
> Severian was that Wolfe wanted to write a character who would make a good 
> halloween costume (this was revealed in an interview). 

Wolfe has said somewher that he has a sense of humor which makes strong
men faint and women reach for weapons.  Maybe the interviewer got a
taste of it here.  Four volumes is a bit much for upstaging Darth
Vader.

-- 
Chris Henrich
The wonderful thing about not planning, is that failure comes as a complete
surprise, and is not preceded by a period of worry or  depression.
                           -- "Kiltannen"

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