Gene Wolfe
Page 14
I was involved in the production of a second story in the anthology, a third reason to recuse myself, but the most pleasant of them. In 2012 William Dietz contacted me by email to sound out ideas for a New Sun story. I was delighted to offer what assistance I could. He had a few scenarios, and we developed one. The result is “In the Shadow of the Gate.” (If he gets a future commission to write a novel set in the Fallout-franchise, I hope he remembers my offer to help out with any lore questions he might have!) I had the pleasure of meeting William Dietz in person at Nebula Weekend in San Jose 2013, the event where Gene Wolfe received a Grand Master Award.
Also on hand in San Jose was Marc Aramini, another contributor to the anthology. I know Marc from the Internet Gene Wolfe community, and I have met him in person a couple of times. His story, which is his first published fiction as far as I can tell, should give pride to the fan community, since it is high quality work, sharing the venue with best sellers. Marc is, among his many other talents, a boxer, as Gene Wolfe told the audience back at the coin-operated mansion in 2012. (Marc and I were sitting up in the balcony, along with James Wynn, another fan who should write more.) This detail came to my mind as I read the fist-fighting details in Gene’s latest novel, The Land Across (2013). Granted that Gene had boxing experience in his youth, but still I sense the influence of Marc here.
So there you have it, a collection of stories. It is tempting for me to say there’s a this-genre story and a that-genre story, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Nor do I want to list all the story linkages, for the same reason, or a very similar one. Instead I’ll end with a timeline.
1978: Gene Wolfe wins Rhysling Award.
1981: Michael first reads Gene Wolfe work.
1982: Robert Frasier interviews Gene Wolfe.
1983: Neil Gaiman interviews Gene Wolfe.
1991: WFC Tucson; Letters Home published.
1992: Young Wolfe published.
1995: Robert Frasier talks about Wolfe tribute; WFC Baltimore.
2004: Robert Borski’s Solar Labyrinth published.
2006: Robert Borski’s The Long and the Short of It published.
2007: Gene Wolfe inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Seattle; Peter Wright’s Shadows of the New Sun published.
2009: The “Frostfree” fiasco.
2012: Gene Wolfe wins Fuller Award, Chicago.
2013: Gene Wolfe wins Grand Master Award, San Jose; The Land Across published.
2014: Michael’s True SF Anime e-book published.
More Books
Lexicon Urthus
A Dictionary for the Urth Cycle
Lexicon Urthus is a semi-encyclopedia on the complete Urth Cycle by Gene Wolfe. This second edition, available for the first time in paperback and Kindle, includes all 950+ entries from the first edition plus 300 new entries; updated maps; richer commentaries; and a complete synopsis of the narrative. Available on Amazon. Follow this link for more information.
Gate of Horn, Book of Silk
A Guide
In this reference work, Michael Andre-Driussi illuminates Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun and Book of the Short Sun science fiction series through dictionary-style entries on the characters, gods, locations, themes, and timelines of the novels. Available at Amazon for preview and sale. Follow this link for more information.
The Wizard Knight Companion
A Guide
The Wizard Knight Companion is a brief alphabetical dictionary for Gene Wolfe's two-volume The Wizard Knight series. Its entries identify the characters in the novel, dive into the mysteries in the text, and explore the Norse, Celtic, and Arthurian sources for names and words in the novels. It includes a map of the region, a cosmology, and a synopsis of the narrative. Available at Amazon for preview and sale. Follow this link for more information.
Handbook of Vance Space
500 Worlds at Your Fingertips!
A reference to the alien worlds of Jack Vance. Sifting through 31 novels, 2 short novels, 8 novellas, 17 novelettes, and 19 short stories in order to list their stars and planets. Featuring 35 tables, 20 maps, and 30 planetary disc illustrations. Nearly a dozen appendices on such topics as “Spaceships,” “Sports,” “Real Stars,” and more.
Available at Amazon for preview and sale. Follow this link for more information.
Snake’s-Hands
The Fiction of John Crowley
John Crowley is one of the finest contemporary American novelists. Snake’s-Hands assembles a host of brilliant essays on his fiction, by such eminent writers and critics as John Clute, Thomas M. Disch, James Hynes, Brian Attebery, and Bill Sheehan. Available on Amazon. Follow this link for more information.
True SF Anime:
Notes for Science Fiction Readers
Who Don’t Watch Anime
This book of essays explores the fourteen rare gems of Japanese animation that are built in the “true SF” tradition.
Available at Amazon for preview and sale. Follow this link for more information.
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[i] See “Fauna of Mirrors” in Borges, The Book of Imaginary Beings.
[ii] Hints that the first language of both sailors is Chinese: “(Jonas) began talking to himself in a nasal, monosyllabic language I did not understand” (III.16.120), and “(Hethor) spoke a gobbling singsong” (I.xxxv.266).