/lit/ - Literature

I read the whole series straight through once and immediately went on to Long Sun and Short Sun.

My perception is that Long Sun is the most straightforward but that the other two would benefit from some rereads, and I'm partway through Claw on my second pass at present.

>>5366041
I accidentally read In Green's Jungles before On Blue's Waters, but didn't realize my mistake until I got the the second book because I thought all my confusion was just a case of getting wolfe'd.

It's goed, read it. If the first part where the author describes the setting and language makes you cringe, don't worry, there's no more of that. (and the information, though inelegantly delivered, is useful still)

>>5366023
It's my favourite book. The only literary thing that has consistently held my interest. Severian is one of my favourite characters

>>5366023
Best SF book ever, period.

This is going to sound stupid, but the Solar Cycle is the Metal Gear Solid of books. People think its pretentious, but its totally not, its rad. Its got a lot of artistry. There's multiple mind blowing, but only if you're paying attention, moments. Also, it has the deepest lore.

>>5369097
>People think its pretentious, but its totally not, its rad. Its got a lot of artistry. Theres multiple mind blowing, but only if you're paying attention, moments. Also, it has the deepest lore.
That's nothing at all like metal gear.
People cum their pants about metal gear considering an example of art even though it only tries to mimic 80's action movies, it doesn't have too much aritsty and tries to compensate with a longer story. There are far few mind blowing moments in any mgs, and it's lore is only complex because of revisions.

It's enigmatic and interesting. I am currently on the last book. There are definitely slow and boring parts, especially in Sword of the Lictor but overall I have enjoyed the journey and would recommend it to fellow readers.

The Book of the New Sun is my favorite literary work. I got so excited reading it that by the end I actually had to lie down and take a breather between chapters

>>5366023
Read the first two books. Sucks balls. Stupid made up words everywhere. Main character has zero motivation to do anything he does. Everyone else is a charicature.

Amazing book.

Somehow i still prefer the black company although it's simpler

>>5371442
Most likely trolling but Wolfe doesn't invent any words. He repurposes disused ones.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sieur

This is the strangest book for me (I have only read the first two). Expectations were super high because everyone says it's the best SF. I found it very enjoyable and finished it in a week which is rather fast for me but I couldn't really say what's good about it or why people say it's the best. At the same time I wasn't at all mad at people for hyping it.
I was just overall happy through the entire read and I couldn't really say why.

I honestly think Severian might be one of the most well realized characters in literature. He's just so alive in those books.

Solid "meh" for me. Soullest hero's journey with Christian imagery layered over a bland, uninspired story. The most interesting characters stop short of ever being fully realized, and mostly have their arcs woven through other other plotlines directly related to Sev. I didn't hate it, just wasn't impressed.

>>5372474
I wasn't trolling, I was unaware of that fact.

I don't understand why it can even be classified as Science Fiction, when there isn't shit about anything science at all. There's no outer space or aliens or mutations or genetic engineering. You can literally read it like it's a medieval fantasy novel.

>>5373009
>no aliens

The Hierodules are explicitly aliens.

>>5373009
There is every single one of those.

>>5373020
And the horses are GMO.
And he gies through space and time.

>>5373020
>>5373023
>>5373033

It's all fucking magic, the way it's described. There's nothing scientific about it.

>>5373082
There's nothing scientific about the best of SF. Get over it.

>>5373082
>It's all fucking magic, the way it's described. There's nothing scientific about it.

>>5373096
Yeah, there is.

>>5373082
Clarke's third law.

Not to mention you personally are not the arbiter of what is or is not counted as science fiction.

But if it will help soothe your bottom call it speculative fiction, then.

>>5373159
I just don't think there's anything in the first two novels to justify a label of science fiction, based on the presentation style. I agree that Clarke's third law might apply here, but the presentation allows for such a mystical interpretation that it might as well be fantasy.

Also, my bottom is quite calm. I merely hold a dissenting opinion.

>>5372832
me too

these books are way overhyped

>>5373033
What are GMOs?

>>5373199
Genetically Modified Organisms

>>5373201
Oh

>>5371442
>Stupid made up words everywhere.
often fun or clever, if you could understand them. Guess their etymology is much less obvious for english natives

>Main character has zero motivation to do anything he does.
was bothered by this at first, but as you go on the fact that it's all narrated by the character that is progressively developed during the books starts making much sense

Finished the first book, taking a break with some asimov before I start the next


I found it very intriguing, but I'm guessing that it's supposed to be vague and dreamlike? The events that took place, as well as the style of writing was quite surreal

Also, Dorcas is supposed to be the old man's dead wife from the gardens, right?

That's like asking /mu/ if anyone there has heard MBDTF.

>>5373683
Yes. She has his body when Severian finds her later.

So the old man is his grandfather. Dorcas is his grandmother. Ouen is his father. And Catherine is his mother. He may also have a sister.

>>5373879
Oh, and if you remember, the old man called his wife 'Cas.'

Short for Dorcas.

>>5373879
Cmon man, I said I only read the first book. Thanks for the fucking spoilers

>>5373994
Snape kills Dumbledore.

>>5373994
If you think Gene is going to serve that sort of revelation to you on a platter, you're not familiar with his style.

I found it ok, it gets annoying sometimes because seems like the history isn't going nowhere but the prose is entertaining. The first two books are good, third and fourth I think I lost a little of interest or something, but I finished just to see how it ended, actually.

But I really liked how Gene never talk about the world directly, this makes the story 10000 times better. If wasn't about it I don't think I would had finish the first book at all.

The plot it is terrible boring, imo, but it goes though good chapters and events.