mrobby10
3/21/2015
When I began the Book of the New Sun I found that it took about a book and a half before I really started to love this series. I read in a review once (by I can't remember who) that Gene Wolfe probably thinks he's smarter than the people who read his books. It is because of this real need to continually look up words that he uses--some of which by the way aren't even real words--that definitely at times can slow your reading down. Though, the more you get into this universe the less cumbersome it becomes, and rather turns into a mini-scavenger hunt trying to figure out what the meaning is behind some of the words. It seems to add a great deal of depth and insight into his universe in much the same way many fantasy writers have made up words to theirs for the same effect. His female characters seem to be a little two-dimensional in that they are either ugly crones or beautiful fantasy fulfilling girls. It is a fantasy book though is it not? In my opinion, this is a wonderfully told tale with aspects of both SF and fantasy woven beautifully together. It has become one of my personal favorotes. The books seem to be getting better as they go along.