Tag Archives: Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe

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Today, May 7, is Gene Wolfe’s birthday. So I thought I would write a bit about him. It was that or L. Ron Hubbard.

And I’m not up for Hubbard tonight. Today has sucked rocks big time. It will be a while before I’m over this one.

I’ve not read a lot of Wolfe. I’ve liked most everything  I’v’e read by him. And he is an author who I want to read a great deal more of. I recently acquired (by legitimate means) his latest  collection, The Dead Man and Other Horror Stories.

I tried to read a few of the stories soon after the book arrived, but I was too tired to read. I ended up falling asleep. I have never been one of these people who can keep reading and never fall asleep. My body overpowers my brain. When I try to keep reading, I usually will have to reread the previous five pages the next day.

But I digress. Wolfe was one of the most unique voices in science fiction and fantasy. IThe novels I read, mostly back in graduate school, I enjoyed. I won’t say how long ago that was.

He’s another writer whose work shouldn’t be forgotten.

A Visit to Redbeard’s Place

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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. Continue reading →

Requiescat in Pace, Gene Wolfe (1931-2019)

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No sooner had I posted the previous update than a notice that Gene Wolfe had died came across my feed.

He passed away yesterday, April 14, at the age of 87 after a long battle with heart disease.  It’s early enough that many of the genre news outlets haven’t posted the news.  Here’s the only one I’ve seen so far, from Tor.com.  As more tributes become avaialbe, I’ll post links in the comments as they become available.  Feel free to post them as you come across them.

I met Gene Wolfe once, at the World Fantasy Convention in Corpus Christi in 2000.  He was a true gentleman.  I’ve not read a great deal of his work, but I’ve liked everything I’ve read by him.

I may have to stay up late after everyone has gone to bed, but I’ll be reading something he wrote tonight and raising a glass in his memory.

Step Into the Sorcerer’s House

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The Sorcerer's HosueThe Sorcerer’s House
Gene Wolfe
Tor
ebook $8.89

I picked this one up in a remainder bin during all the travel and disruption of routine a few weeks ago. I’ve not read much Wolfe, but every time I do, I come away with the desire to read more. He’s a unique voice in American letters, whose works are lyrical, funny, thought-provoking, and always strange and original.

The Sorcerer’s House is no exception. While it probably won’t be considered one of his major works, it’s a great read. Of course, when your major works include classics such as The Book of the New Sun, someone saying a particular novel isn’t a major work isn’t exactly damning with faint praise. Continue reading →

Again? Really!?

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68801_467727219952918_618352305_nYou may remember the controversy last summer over the SFWA bulletin, which encompassed, among other things, people being offended by some things said by Mike Resnick and Barry Malzberg, some other articles deemed sexist, and of course, the cover you see on the left.  I discussed the situation in this post.

Well, now there’s another controversy brewing.  Steve Davidson of Amazing Stories does a fine job of summarizing it here.

I’ll hit the high points, but you’ll have to track down some of the details on your own.  During last summer’s fiasco, publication of the Bulletin was suspended.  Plans are for it to resume.  A few things need to happen first, like a new editor has to be hired.  And there’s some sort of oversight committee that will be put in place to see to it that the Bulletin doesn’t publish anything that isn’t up to SFWA standards.

And that’s got some people upset. Continue reading →