Nightside again, chapter one

Derek Bell · 14 Dec 1998, 20:20 · from whorl-v0009.mbox · original

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From: Derek Bell <dbell at maths.tcd.ie>
Subject: Re: (whorl) Nightside again, chapter one
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 20:20:36 +0000
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In message <199812131953.LAA19875 at lists1.best.com>, "Kevin J. Maroney" writ=
es:
>I noticed it and assumed that it was a copyediting mistake until I got to
>the end! I don't know what that says about me.

	Me almost three - when it was pointed out on the list, I
realised that Wolfe was up to some very sneaky things. I had to admit
that at first I was a bit disappointed in the Long Sun series,
thinking at first that Wolfe's talent had diminished. I was delighted
to discover that though he was chanting plainly, he was still up to
his old tricks. (Leaving clues and indirect implications in the text;
making philosophical & theological arguments in the text.)

	Hmmm... Is it just me or has anyone else resorted to religious
imagery in describing Wolfe's strategies?

	I suppose Wolfe's least satisfying work was _Pandora, by Holly
Hollander_, but even there he had a few subtle references[1] & jokes, but
nothing comparable to _TBoTNS_ or _TBoTLS_. Wolfe also wrote it as an
allegory; or at least it's capable of being read as an allegory about
love, the different kinds of love.

	Derek

[1]I think I caught a couple of musical references related to Chicago.

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