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outcolder's review against another edition
3.0
If it isn't Earth, then why is the religion so similar to the religions in the Hellenistic period? And if it is some far-future Earth, then where are the non-Western influences on the culture? I mean, if you do straight fantasy, high fantasy, whatever, swords and wizards and all that, and it is basically medieval stuff with monsters and magic, okay. But if you make the magic technology, and the monsters were genetically engineered, and the Gods are either post-humans or AIs or something, then don't give me a bunch of medieval stuff again. I was okay with it in the [a:Jack Vance|5376|Jack Vance|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207604643p2/5376.jpg] Dying Earth stories because it had such a mythic feel, and it really was more fantasy than science fiction. But here, the Eurocentrism is a bit grating. The main character is complex and fascinating, though, and the story is just getting off the ground so I am willing to give it time to develop. Also, I am aware that the whole thing really started with a whole series "before" this one, and maybe if I'd read that first I wouldn't be as nitpicky and politically correct. Which reminds me, are all the women literally virgins or whores? The only two who weren't actually virgins for their religions or prostitutes were a goddess and a devil...
sonice's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars. Think BotNS, but without most of the tricksy hidden-in-plain-sight worldbuilding and unreliable narration. Of course, this results in the book being a lot less interesting, but it still has plenty of good things going for it. The writing still has that floaty, detached weirdness to it, the MC himself is an interesting dude, there are cool themes already emerging, and some of the connections to the previous series are neat too. Worth the read if you like Wolfe.
azazellos_fang's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
My reread of the "Sun" books continues. Much like the first New Sun book, Wolfe spends much of his time establishing the Long Sun world, not telling you much explicitly, but instead letting you fill in the gaps and leaving many mysteries for later books. The language is a little less rich; having said that, the first taste of this world is very satisfying.
carmiendo's review against another edition
5.0
this book is really easy to read and i'm having such a good time
anothersolipsist's review against another edition
4.0
This review covers the entire Book of the Long Sun, since it's really one long story. You won't want to read one book without going on to the others.
The Book of the Long Sun is excellent. The characterization is superb -- I don't think I've ever read another book where each character has such a distinct personality. The story itself has a fantastical setting, but this book is about the people (one person in particular) and their adventures.
One of the things I like best about the Book of the Long Sun is how subtle it is. You see the world from the point of view of its inhabitants. Gene Wolfe manages to convey enough information for a reader to understand the world without ever dropping out of character or resorting to heavy-handed exposition. And the story doesn't feel a need to wrap up all the loose ends, either. Some things just are, and the characters either don't question them or never get full explanations. I think the book is even more interesting viewed as a tale by an unreliable narrator. What really happened? How were events and people twisted in the telling?
The Book of the Long Sun is well worth reading. Make sure that you have all four volumes available before you start!
The Book of the Long Sun is excellent. The characterization is superb -- I don't think I've ever read another book where each character has such a distinct personality. The story itself has a fantastical setting, but this book is about the people (one person in particular) and their adventures.
One of the things I like best about the Book of the Long Sun is how subtle it is. You see the world from the point of view of its inhabitants. Gene Wolfe manages to convey enough information for a reader to understand the world without ever dropping out of character or resorting to heavy-handed exposition. And the story doesn't feel a need to wrap up all the loose ends, either. Some things just are, and the characters either don't question them or never get full explanations. I think the book is even more interesting viewed as a tale by an unreliable narrator. What really happened? How were events and people twisted in the telling?
The Book of the Long Sun is well worth reading. Make sure that you have all four volumes available before you start!
arthurbdd's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps the best part of the Book of the Long Sun, since it's our introduction to the world which Wolfe will exhaustively explore in the rest of the series and so the part which is still mysterious, and it is also the part which is the most focused. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2023/08/10/gene-wolfes-solar-cycle-part-2-a-long-drawn-out-sunset/
igglemustang's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jdashcastillo's review against another edition
5.0
Nightside the Long Sun was a wonderful read and continuation of the Solar Cycle. Silk is a great protagonist and a lot different from Severian for sure in the actions that he takes and his approach to situations and his relationships. Gene Wolfe’s writing style in this also made it “easy” to digest, while there is tons and tons of things happening under the surface, at face value this story flows very smoothly and can be read very quickly. I genuinely enjoyed the third person view and although it is more reliable than our recounting of events by a certain torturer, we still have mysteries that can’t really be solved when we’re being told what’s happening. A very science fantasy series and with a rich and deep whorl being presented here, with characters that can seem simple but have so much depth when you take a step back and really see what’s going on and try to infer a bit. It’s crazy that this whole journey starts off with a singular moment in the first page really that is the MC’s driving force for the whole book if not probably the remainder of the story. Having a character like Patera Silk who would’ve otherwise been a very very obstinate character, through the theopany, turn into a character that is very contemplative in his decisions, weighing his morality and trying to having an ends justifying the means attitude more and more as we progress is very fire. Even just like him drinking wine at the end casually with Auk and not giving it much thought shows how much these 2 days really moves and changes Silk as a whole. I’m very excited to see where this goes and how Patera Silk will develop as a character and the rest of the Long Sun series.