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knoxraed's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trilbynorton's review against another edition
3.0
“Good book?”
In a way, Oreb. Like The Book of the New Sun, the previous volume in Gene Wolfe’s Solar Cycle, The Book of the Long Sun has a preoccupation with obfuscation. There is a preponderance of dialogue here, and the plot (such as it is; more on that below) and worldbuilding are hidden in the double meanings of words, in what isn’t said, in the parity/disparity between the dialogue and prose. This, of course, requires a particular type of engagement from the reader, one which will appeal to some (such as myself) but not others.
The issue with The Book of the Long Sun is that it is effectively a four-book prologue to the next volume, The Book of the Short Sun. As such, the plot is largely just moving characters around in order to set up the starting conditions of the next volume. I liked it well enough, especially when it entered more definitive science fiction territory. But it was difficult to shake the feeling that this is mere set up.
The real saving grace, though, is Oreb, a crimson-beaked corvid whose lively interjections and shrewd summations brightened the series considerably.
“Bird good!”
In a way, Oreb. Like The Book of the New Sun, the previous volume in Gene Wolfe’s Solar Cycle, The Book of the Long Sun has a preoccupation with obfuscation. There is a preponderance of dialogue here, and the plot (such as it is; more on that below) and worldbuilding are hidden in the double meanings of words, in what isn’t said, in the parity/disparity between the dialogue and prose. This, of course, requires a particular type of engagement from the reader, one which will appeal to some (such as myself) but not others.
The issue with The Book of the Long Sun is that it is effectively a four-book prologue to the next volume, The Book of the Short Sun. As such, the plot is largely just moving characters around in order to set up the starting conditions of the next volume. I liked it well enough, especially when it entered more definitive science fiction territory. But it was difficult to shake the feeling that this is mere set up.
The real saving grace, though, is Oreb, a crimson-beaked corvid whose lively interjections and shrewd summations brightened the series considerably.
“Bird good!”
azazellos_fang's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
igglemustang's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
arthurbdd's review against another edition
3.0
Drags a little compared to the previous volumes, but a decent enough conclusion. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2023/08/10/gene-wolfes-solar-cycle-part-2-a-long-drawn-out-sunset/
nayneyneigh's review against another edition
3.0
This book (and the series as a whole) is a mixed bag. Wolfe is up to his usual tricks, but it strikes differently from what he produced in Book of the New Sun. Obfuscation and ambiguity abound, which left me curious and eager to read, especially when revelations are dropped. However, the deliberate cutting away from action and significant moments gave me readerly blue-balls.
jdashcastillo's review
5.0
“It is that love forgets injuries. I know that Hyacinth would never betray me, just as you know that Nettle would never betray you; but if she did—if she did a thousand times—I would still love her.”
I loved this. Slower in pace for sure than BotNS and at times it does feel like some of the things Wolfe puts in this series is unnecessary at times but I genuinely loved the characters and mythology of Pas and gods on the Long Son Whorl. Silk was such an enjoyable character and seeing his change from Nightside to now is very remarkable because he still retains his roundabout way of speaking and lecturing Horn but he starts to move away from being as devout as he was after the theopany and starts being more himself. Auk was a character I wasn’t expecting to get too much out of but his presence in the middle books was really good, especially in Caldé.
“I felt that I understood you, just as I felt I understood myself. In the past ten days or so you’ve become somebody else, somebody I don’t understand at all, and so have I. ”
It was so great seeing Silk’s change over the course of these four novels. Seeing him being so pious to a false religion and being very diligent in his teachings and practice, to his becoming more loose in his faith and driving force after the Outsider’s theopany. His character was brilliant and I think having him as the main character was a treat, especially coming from the viewpoint of Horn.
“Street, foolish people used to ask me why Pas or Scylla permitted some action that they regarded as evil, as if a god had to sign a paper before a man could be struck or a child fall ill. On my wedding night, the Outsider explained why it is that he permits what people call evil at all—not this theft or that uncleanness, but the thing itself. It serves him, you see. It hates him, yet it serves him, too.”
Throughout the tetralogy we see people performing “evil” acts and seeking penance in the form of attending and bringing sacrifices, listening to the gods and their chosen disciples and also being shriven by augurs and confessing. I love this because it coincides with every religion as to their gods being so great that they would never fear rebellions, because they know that will only drive them back to the devotion in the end. It may be this isn’t exactly what the gods want or teach, but it serves a purpose for them all in all to guide them back with their wandering faith. I know Gene Wolfe is a very religious person, as we see from his using Severian as a Christ-like figure and Silk most certainly being an allegory to Moses, he is phenomenal when it comes to his religious themes, man. I really want to see what he brings to the table in Short Sun with Horn.
“It would not have been such a bad thing, perhaps, to have fallen. If one did not dread death, it would be an experience of unparalleled interest”
I loved this. Slower in pace for sure than BotNS and at times it does feel like some of the things Wolfe puts in this series is unnecessary at times but I genuinely loved the characters and mythology of Pas and gods on the Long Son Whorl. Silk was such an enjoyable character and seeing his change from Nightside to now is very remarkable because he still retains his roundabout way of speaking and lecturing Horn but he starts to move away from being as devout as he was after the theopany and starts being more himself. Auk was a character I wasn’t expecting to get too much out of but his presence in the middle books was really good, especially in Caldé.
“I felt that I understood you, just as I felt I understood myself. In the past ten days or so you’ve become somebody else, somebody I don’t understand at all, and so have I. ”
It was so great seeing Silk’s change over the course of these four novels. Seeing him being so pious to a false religion and being very diligent in his teachings and practice, to his becoming more loose in his faith and driving force after the Outsider’s theopany. His character was brilliant and I think having him as the main character was a treat, especially coming from the viewpoint of Horn.
“Street, foolish people used to ask me why Pas or Scylla permitted some action that they regarded as evil, as if a god had to sign a paper before a man could be struck or a child fall ill. On my wedding night, the Outsider explained why it is that he permits what people call evil at all—not this theft or that uncleanness, but the thing itself. It serves him, you see. It hates him, yet it serves him, too.”
Throughout the tetralogy we see people performing “evil” acts and seeking penance in the form of attending and bringing sacrifices, listening to the gods and their chosen disciples and also being shriven by augurs and confessing. I love this because it coincides with every religion as to their gods being so great that they would never fear rebellions, because they know that will only drive them back to the devotion in the end. It may be this isn’t exactly what the gods want or teach, but it serves a purpose for them all in all to guide them back with their wandering faith. I know Gene Wolfe is a very religious person, as we see from his using Severian as a Christ-like figure and Silk most certainly being an allegory to Moses, he is phenomenal when it comes to his religious themes, man. I really want to see what he brings to the table in Short Sun with Horn.
“It would not have been such a bad thing, perhaps, to have fallen. If one did not dread death, it would be an experience of unparalleled interest”
littlecatnose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Greatest writer of all time, baby!