Gene Wolfe
The Retro Hugo post I was too tired to write last night will have to wait another day, because today, May 7, is Gene Wolfe’s birthday. The more I read Gene Wolfe (1931-2019), the more I appreciate him as a writer.
Tonight’s story is “Redbeard”. It’s a short tale, not really fantasy unless you count reference to a haunted house, the Redbeard place. It’s certainly not science fiction. It’s definitely horror, with a bit of noir thrown in for good measure. It was devilish fun.
The narrator is new to the community, and he doesn’t fit in with the long-time residents. (In the story notes that follow the story, Wolfe says this tale is based on a small town he and his wife lived in early in their marriage.) The exception is a gentleman named Howie.
One day the narrator is riding with Howie when they pass an old house. Howie says that’s the Redbeard place. Redbeard wasn’t the original owner’s name. He got that moniker later. The narrator mentions the house, which is in a severe state of disrepair, looks haunted. Howie responds in the affirmative and says the few times he’s tried to go in, something has stopped him.
He then begins to tell the tale of an older man named Jackson who was from a neighboring town and bought the house, later marrying a younger woman. One night he’s returning from visiting the town he came from when he has to stop at a wreck. A school bus has had an accident, and the sheriff’s deputy wants him to take some of the kids back to town to the hospital.
Jackson refuses. The deputy notices something in the bed of Jackson’s truck. It’s covered by a tarp. Turns out the object is a dead girl. The rest of the story is about the investigation of Jackson and the things he has locked in his cellar behind a door his wife has strict instructions never to enter.
The plot is a simple one, but Wolfe tells his tale well. There isn’t a single twist at the end. There are two. One of which I should have seen coming, only I was caught off guard by the twist that preceded it.
“Redbeard” is a nice, effective little tale. I read it in The Best of Gene Wolfe.
One man’s joy is another man’s pain. I’m reading the same Wolfe collection, and as usual for me and Gene, despite wanting to like/enjoy him, the more I read of him the less of him I wish to read. Elegant storyteller who tells stories I so far don’t give a hoot about. I enjoyed his Wizard/Knight duology and that’s been it. I’ll finish this collection (someday) and gift it away from me.
You speak truth. Not every writer is for every reader.
Not to long ago since I was stuck home do the Coronavirus (I was considered non-essential) I reread The Book of the New Sun. It had been years since I read it, but it really held up.
I read Redbeard years ago too and I remember the outline of the story. Probably due for another reread. Wolfe’s work usually benefits the second time around.