Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe, one of my favorite authors, passed away three days ago. He first became active as a fantastic fiction author in the 1970s and became a major force in the genre in the 1980s. IMHO his work deserves LOA's recognition and not just for his novels. Some of his short fiction is brilliant.

I whole-heartedly agree. Wolfe is a master writer with a unique voice like no one else. I was first introduced to him when someone recommended the short story Detective of Dreams. After that I dived into Shadow of the Torturer. A few years ago, if anyone asked me who my favorite authors were, I would always say, well my favorite LIVING authors are Umberto Eco, Philip Roth, and Gene Wolfe. Sadly, now all gone.

As far as I am aware, everything Wolfe wrote for publication is out except possibly for one novel, Interlibrary Loan, a sequel to 2015s A Borrowed Man. When A Borrowed Man was published, Wolfe said he was working it but wasn't sure if he would be able to finish it. I vaguely recall a news note in a recent Locus issue saying that it has been turned over to his publisher. I can't look it up because I hand off all of my Locus issues to others after I'm finished with them. Amazon doesn't show an availability date, and the Tor web site is uninformative. However, this article on Tor's site is interesting, especially for those unfamiliar with Wolfe's work.

I belatedly echo the opinion, motion, of PODRAS and BRO. SALVATORE: Gene Wolfe should definitely be given consideration for inclusion in the LOA.

His "Book of the New Sun" series (four novels published in the early 80s, with a sort of epilogue/sequel -- also critically acclaimed -- that came out in '87) is generally the choice that people cite for inclusion in any canon. All four books won awards, from both the science fiction groups (Nebula Award; British SF Award; Campbell Award) and fantasy groups (World Fantasy Award; August Derleth Award; Locus Award).

But he wrote lots of other great novels, and a LOT of great short fiction (THE BEST OF GENE WOLFE, a 2010 collection, garnered a World Fantasy Award). One of those stories, "The Death of Dr. Island" won a Nebula Award for short fiction (and Wolfe was playful enough with the language to write three more short fiction "riffs" on the title: "The Doctor of Death Island", "Death of the Island Doctor" and "The Island of Doctor Death, and Other Stories").

Had the chance to meet, and briefly speak, with Mr. Wolfe while attending a Nebula Convention in the late 90s (we were waiting for our wives, outside a bathroom). He was a mensch.

Gene Wolfe's Interlibrary Loan is scheduled for release on June 20, 2020.

Podras: That IS pretty cool. Hope they (editors...copyeditors) didn't screw it up, or make changes "they" thought were needed. Now? Time for the LOA to publish some Gene Wolfe -- and some Harlan Ellison! -- even if it's just one of those "stand-alone", special editions.

Wolfe in Library of America would be amazing, even if it was a single volume.

Heryago, Podras: THIS is the spot to lobby for a Gene Wolfe inclusion into the LOA. Or, perhaps one of his novels will be chosen for a 3rd volume of American Science Fiction novels.

>8 Truett: What is your rule for posts that mention both Wolfe and Beagle?

MY rule? LOL I'm the LAST person you should ask about rules. I was, I thought, just trying to help out, since _you_ mentioned something about it all when posting in the Beagle thread.

A good deed never goes unpunished or unchecked...?

>8 Truett: I think your speculation is likely to be proven correct. The Fifth Head of Cerberus would be an absolutely perfect fit for a 1970s installment of the American Science Fiction series.