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The Book of the Long Sun #1
Nightside the Long Sun
Enormous in breadth and scope, Wolfe’s ambitious new work opens out into a world of wonders, of gods and humans, aliens and machines, and mysterious adventures far out in space and deep inside the human spirit. It is set on a ship-world whose origins are shrouded in legend, ruled by strange gods who appear infrequently to their worshippers on large screens, and peopled by a human race changed by eons of time, yet familiar.
Nightside the Long Sun is the beginning of a masterpiece of science fiction. Life on the Whorl, and the struggles and triumphs of Patera Silk to satisfy the demands of the gods, will captivate readers yearning for something new and different in science fiction, for the magic of the future.
Nightside the Long Sun is the beginning of a masterpiece of science fiction. Life on the Whorl, and the struggles and triumphs of Patera Silk to satisfy the demands of the gods, will captivate readers yearning for something new and different in science fiction, for the magic of the future.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
261 people are currently reading
3338 people want to read
About the author
Gene Wolfe
506 books3,573 followersGene Wolfe was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He was noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying a Catholic. He was a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the field.
The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is given by SFWA for ‘lifetime achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy.’ Wolfe joins the Grand Master ranks alongside such legends as Connie Willis, Michael Moorcock, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Silverberg, Ursula K. Le Guin, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Joe Haldeman. The award will be presented at the 48th Annual Nebula Awards Weekend in San Jose, CA, May 16-19, 2013.
While attending Texas A&M University Wolfe published his first speculative fiction in The Commentator, a student literary journal. Wolfe dropped out during his junior year, and was drafted to fight in the Korean War. After returning to the United States he earned a degree from the University of Houston and became an industrial engineer. He edited the journal Plant Engineering for many years before retiring to write full-time, but his most famous professional engineering achievement is a contribution to the machine used to make Pringles potato crisps. He lived in Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
A frequent Hugo nominee without a win, Wolfe has nevertheless picked up several Nebula and Locus Awards, among others, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and the 2012 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award. He is also a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/genewolfe
The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is given by SFWA for ‘lifetime achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy.’ Wolfe joins the Grand Master ranks alongside such legends as Connie Willis, Michael Moorcock, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Silverberg, Ursula K. Le Guin, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Joe Haldeman. The award will be presented at the 48th Annual Nebula Awards Weekend in San Jose, CA, May 16-19, 2013.
While attending Texas A&M University Wolfe published his first speculative fiction in The Commentator, a student literary journal. Wolfe dropped out during his junior year, and was drafted to fight in the Korean War. After returning to the United States he earned a degree from the University of Houston and became an industrial engineer. He edited the journal Plant Engineering for many years before retiring to write full-time, but his most famous professional engineering achievement is a contribution to the machine used to make Pringles potato crisps. He lived in Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
A frequent Hugo nominee without a win, Wolfe has nevertheless picked up several Nebula and Locus Awards, among others, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and the 2012 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award. He is also a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/genewolfe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
June 3, 2018
This was well written but boring as hell. I should have just DNF-ed it instead of pushing to the end.
April 10, 2010
I don't think I'll ever be able to read another sci-fi/fantasy book without comparing them to Wolfe. He's one of those authors that you think, "Yes, he is obviously talented" without attaching much emotion to the thought and then comes around your back door with a line or a concept that catapults him into your favorite author bin. After finishing the book of the New Sun, I decided to check out his other books and I hesitated on this series for a while. A world on a giant starship? Do I have time for such things? I should not have read about the starship thing and I wouldn't include it here if it weren't on the blurb on the back of the book because I would have enjoyed this series much sooner. I read on wiki that he should be read with a dictionary because of the many meanings he attributes to certain words that he plays with in his books. You have to have respect for an author like that, especially since it isn't necessary to have a dictionary on hand in order to enjoy. He's called a modern day Homer on the back of Lake of the Long Sun, for crying out loud. Read.
June 18, 2020
Uvodna knjiga u nesto nadam se vrlo zanimljivo.
Dosta toga je receno ali vecina stvari vezanih za likove, radnju i sam svet u koji je sve to pohranjeno ostaju nepoznanica. Ovo je klasican Dzin Volf ali moram priznati ne tako "jak" kao u knjigama Novog Sunca.
Dosta toga je receno ali vecina stvari vezanih za likove, radnju i sam svet u koji je sve to pohranjeno ostaju nepoznanica. Ovo je klasican Dzin Volf ali moram priznati ne tako "jak" kao u knjigama Novog Sunca.
May 6, 2021
(1st re-read) In the Book Of The New Sun, Severian tells the reader in chapter 1 where he ends up - the books draw the line that gets him there, revealing the world and the scale of events like a procession of conjurors’ scarves. Book Of The Long Sun has a very different structure. It begins with a single event, like a meteor strike, and then shows the impact of that event as it ripples outward to change (and maybe save or destroy) the world its characters know.
So Nightside The Long Sun - Book I - is extremely compact. It takes place in roughly a single day and night and in only two locations - a destitute quarter of a city and a mansion a few hours walk from it. The event - mentioned in the first sentence - is a sudden religious vision experienced by protagonist Silk, a priest at a run-down manteion (a church/school). The vision gives Silk a sense of divinely-inspired urgency - he has to save the manteion from being sold and closed, and he has to do it RIGHT AWAY. By the end of the night he’s committed crimes, fired futuristic weapons, bargained with gangsters, witnessed more than one death, and repeatedly failed to eat dinner. And meanwhile the rumour of his enlightenment is spreading through the drought-stricken city.
On my first read of this - 20 years or so ago - I was keeping most of an eye out for science fiction tropes that would tip me off to reveals about the book’s setting. But while they are definitely there in Nightside they aren’t enormously important and they mostly work to distract you from the other genre ideas Gene Wolfe is playing with. Nightside The Long Sun is a crime novel. A postmodern mash-up of a crime novel, to be sure, mixing Holmesian detection, noirish sleaze, hard-boiled action, penny dreadful gothic mystery, and a caper narrative - not to mention a hero with unusual motivations. But that’s what Wolfe is having fun with in this book, and Nightside is best enjoyed if you go through it on those terms, and try not to scratch the many understandable itches you’ll have to learn more about the gods, the skylands, and the rest of Long Sun’s wider context.
(Is there any link between Nightside and the 4 or 5 New Sun books, though? At this stage the big explicit link isn’t obvious (though there are clues - one of them in an obscene painting!) but there are clear thematic parallels. Each of them is about a world where something has gone badly and fundamentally wrong, though the exact nature of this wrong isn’t clear quite yet. But New Sun is the story of a man who starts profane and comes to understand the divine; Long Sun is the story of a man who starts in touch with the divine and has to learn to navigate the profane.)
So Nightside The Long Sun - Book I - is extremely compact. It takes place in roughly a single day and night and in only two locations - a destitute quarter of a city and a mansion a few hours walk from it. The event - mentioned in the first sentence - is a sudden religious vision experienced by protagonist Silk, a priest at a run-down manteion (a church/school). The vision gives Silk a sense of divinely-inspired urgency - he has to save the manteion from being sold and closed, and he has to do it RIGHT AWAY. By the end of the night he’s committed crimes, fired futuristic weapons, bargained with gangsters, witnessed more than one death, and repeatedly failed to eat dinner. And meanwhile the rumour of his enlightenment is spreading through the drought-stricken city.
On my first read of this - 20 years or so ago - I was keeping most of an eye out for science fiction tropes that would tip me off to reveals about the book’s setting. But while they are definitely there in Nightside they aren’t enormously important and they mostly work to distract you from the other genre ideas Gene Wolfe is playing with. Nightside The Long Sun is a crime novel. A postmodern mash-up of a crime novel, to be sure, mixing Holmesian detection, noirish sleaze, hard-boiled action, penny dreadful gothic mystery, and a caper narrative - not to mention a hero with unusual motivations. But that’s what Wolfe is having fun with in this book, and Nightside is best enjoyed if you go through it on those terms, and try not to scratch the many understandable itches you’ll have to learn more about the gods, the skylands, and the rest of Long Sun’s wider context.
(Is there any link between Nightside and the 4 or 5 New Sun books, though? At this stage the big explicit link isn’t obvious (though there are clues - one of them in an obscene painting!) but there are clear thematic parallels. Each of them is about a world where something has gone badly and fundamentally wrong, though the exact nature of this wrong isn’t clear quite yet. But New Sun is the story of a man who starts profane and comes to understand the divine; Long Sun is the story of a man who starts in touch with the divine and has to learn to navigate the profane.)
March 21, 2018
3.5 stars
I know this is only book one of a tetralogy, but I feel like I was left hanging a bit more at the end than I would have liked. Still, I like the way of Wolfe's world slowly creating itself in my mind as I'm fed detailed bits slowly throughout the story, and his worlds have an unsettling yet exciting combination of old and new. Definitely looking forward to book two.
I know this is only book one of a tetralogy, but I feel like I was left hanging a bit more at the end than I would have liked. Still, I like the way of Wolfe's world slowly creating itself in my mind as I'm fed detailed bits slowly throughout the story, and his worlds have an unsettling yet exciting combination of old and new. Definitely looking forward to book two.
June 25, 2015
Zapravo je negdje 2,46 ali kako nemamo zakonsku obavezu zaključivati ocjene po srednjoj vrijednsti, evo trojke samo iz razloga što se nadam da će u ostale 3 knjige radnja biti brža, dinamičnija, zanimljivija i uzbudljivija...
March 23, 2025
Fantastic. In many ways a lot more accessible book 1 than The Shadow of the Torturer. Plenty of twists and turns, including a final reveal that changes everything about what you think the story is.
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
December 5, 2023
Nolēmu, ja jau pirmās piecas izlasīju, tad kādēļ apstāties. bija cerības gūt vēl kādu ieskatu Severīna pasaulē. Nekā!
Lasītājs jau no pirmajām lapaspusēm attopas kāda priestera vārdā Silk stāstījumā. Viņa pienākums ir rūpēties par apkaimes nabagiem, upurēt dieviem un lūgt, lai "Logos" atkal parādītos dievi. Taču pasaule ar kuru, lasītājs ātri vien saprot, ir domāts kosmosa kuģis, iet uz priekšu. Dievi rādās arvien retāk pavisam aizņemti ar saviem meinfriema ritiem, un baznīcas īpašumi iet postā, velc tu virs ticīgajiem saskaitīšanas zīmi vai nevelc. Tā nu Silk uzzina, ka viņa diacēzi (manteonu) ir nopircis kāds Blood. Priesterim dots mēnesis lai savāktu naudu atpakaļ nopirkšanai.
Šis vairāk ir stāsts par Silk izaugšanu, vai uz labo pusi - nezinu. Grāmatas sākumā viņš ir parasts reliģiskais kalpotājs, kurš lai arī nabadzīgs ir pārliecināts par savu vietu pasaulē (whorl). Beigās viņā jau ir pamodusies tumšā puse, puisis izrādās ir spējīgs detektīvs, kramplauzis, psihologs un avantūrists. Šīs izmaiņas notiek vienas dienas (pareizāk sakot nakts) laikā.
Pasaule ir tāda postapokaliptiskā, kur augstas tehnoloģijas sadzīvo ar primitīvu kapitālismu. Te ir lāzerzobeni, kiborgi un flaijeri. Ir arī ēzeļi, dzīvnieku upurēšana, slimības un nabadzība. Skaidrs ka kaut kas uz kuģa ir nogājis greizi un tie kuriem par to būtu jārūpējas ir nozuduši. Nav brīnums ka mūsu varonis saņem apgaismību no Autsaidera, kas valda pāri vietām ārpus Kuģa, kur ir nakts melnums, kurā mirdz tikai zvaigznes.
Stāstījums, ka jau šim autoram ierasts ir spraigs piedzīvojums, kas apraujas negaidītākajā vietā. Kā pieredzējis lasītājs es arī zinu, ka iespējams šī minicikla otrā grāmata nemaz neatsāksies ar Silk vai Blood. 9 no 10 ballēm.
Lasītājs jau no pirmajām lapaspusēm attopas kāda priestera vārdā Silk stāstījumā. Viņa pienākums ir rūpēties par apkaimes nabagiem, upurēt dieviem un lūgt, lai "Logos" atkal parādītos dievi. Taču pasaule ar kuru, lasītājs ātri vien saprot, ir domāts kosmosa kuģis, iet uz priekšu. Dievi rādās arvien retāk pavisam aizņemti ar saviem meinfriema ritiem, un baznīcas īpašumi iet postā, velc tu virs ticīgajiem saskaitīšanas zīmi vai nevelc. Tā nu Silk uzzina, ka viņa diacēzi (manteonu) ir nopircis kāds Blood. Priesterim dots mēnesis lai savāktu naudu atpakaļ nopirkšanai.
Šis vairāk ir stāsts par Silk izaugšanu, vai uz labo pusi - nezinu. Grāmatas sākumā viņš ir parasts reliģiskais kalpotājs, kurš lai arī nabadzīgs ir pārliecināts par savu vietu pasaulē (whorl). Beigās viņā jau ir pamodusies tumšā puse, puisis izrādās ir spējīgs detektīvs, kramplauzis, psihologs un avantūrists. Šīs izmaiņas notiek vienas dienas (pareizāk sakot nakts) laikā.
Pasaule ir tāda postapokaliptiskā, kur augstas tehnoloģijas sadzīvo ar primitīvu kapitālismu. Te ir lāzerzobeni, kiborgi un flaijeri. Ir arī ēzeļi, dzīvnieku upurēšana, slimības un nabadzība. Skaidrs ka kaut kas uz kuģa ir nogājis greizi un tie kuriem par to būtu jārūpējas ir nozuduši. Nav brīnums ka mūsu varonis saņem apgaismību no Autsaidera, kas valda pāri vietām ārpus Kuģa, kur ir nakts melnums, kurā mirdz tikai zvaigznes.
Stāstījums, ka jau šim autoram ierasts ir spraigs piedzīvojums, kas apraujas negaidītākajā vietā. Kā pieredzējis lasītājs es arī zinu, ka iespējams šī minicikla otrā grāmata nemaz neatsāksies ar Silk vai Blood. 9 no 10 ballēm.
March 12, 2018
Third read of this series. Still love it.
August 30, 2015
Wolfe's gimmick is unreliable narrators. Since this is in third person, I'm curious how it will play out. Certainly the author is parsimonious with details, as though relating the story to someone perfectly familiar with the lifestyle and state of things on the Whorl, the strange O'Neill cylinder environment that forms the entire world to these characters. Part of the joy in reading is sussing out the words between the words, uncovering the meaning of things mentioned in passing. What is a "chem", as Maytera Marble is implied to be? An android? What about an "azoth"? What are the gods, and why do they appear only in the implied-to-be-a-viewscreen Sacred Windows, and why do they no longer?
Why does this world feel used up, between the things that do not work and cannot be replaced, and the local and worrisome climate changes?
I wanted to give this one more star--there is so much here that is so fascinating--but the scope of the story sets it solidly as the first of an obvious series with much more to unveil. This is obviously a precursor to the rest, how Patera Silk gets involved in underworld dealings and starts on the road to badass, and it is hard to look at it as a thing by itself.
Why does this world feel used up, between the things that do not work and cannot be replaced, and the local and worrisome climate changes?
I wanted to give this one more star--there is so much here that is so fascinating--but the scope of the story sets it solidly as the first of an obvious series with much more to unveil. This is obviously a precursor to the rest, how Patera Silk gets involved in underworld dealings and starts on the road to badass, and it is hard to look at it as a thing by itself.
January 31, 2023
**** 3.9 STARS ****
Gene Wolfe has a great mind when it comes to prose; it's often challenging, but always rewarding.
The Book of the Long Sun is a lot more accessible than The Book of the New Sun. However, it did take a couple of chapters to understand what was going on. Indeed, it wasn't until the third way mark that the threads of the plot began to unravel. And as usual, Gene Wolfe breathes life into a cast of fascinating characters in a fascinating world.
There's very little I can say plot wise, because I'd would spoil the story. So I'll say this: at the heart of the story is a, somewhat naive and clumsy protagonist, in what feels like a crime novel at times, and a mystery, with many factors in play.
Whilst not necessary to enjoy reading Gene Wolfe, having a dictionary on hand, especially if you aren't proficient on religious terminology, can be very helpful.
Looking forward to the 2nd book.
Gene Wolfe has a great mind when it comes to prose; it's often challenging, but always rewarding.
The Book of the Long Sun is a lot more accessible than The Book of the New Sun. However, it did take a couple of chapters to understand what was going on. Indeed, it wasn't until the third way mark that the threads of the plot began to unravel. And as usual, Gene Wolfe breathes life into a cast of fascinating characters in a fascinating world.
There's very little I can say plot wise, because I'd would spoil the story. So I'll say this: at the heart of the story is a, somewhat naive and clumsy protagonist, in what feels like a crime novel at times, and a mystery, with many factors in play.
Whilst not necessary to enjoy reading Gene Wolfe, having a dictionary on hand, especially if you aren't proficient on religious terminology, can be very helpful.
Looking forward to the 2nd book.
May 27, 2012
This novel is the first book in the Long sun tetralogy. It took me longer to get into than any previous work of Wolfe's that I've read, but ultimately it was well worth it.
I realize, like with all Wolfe books, the writing is not something that will be appreciated by all types of readers. Wolfe does not go to any extreme lengths to explain to the reader what is going on or even disclose many details regarding the world the story takes place in. Rather, he doles out bits of information sparingly and lets the reader make their own assumptions, which is one of the reasons I love this guy.
I am eager to continue with the story of Silk in book 2- Lake of the Long Sun.
I realize, like with all Wolfe books, the writing is not something that will be appreciated by all types of readers. Wolfe does not go to any extreme lengths to explain to the reader what is going on or even disclose many details regarding the world the story takes place in. Rather, he doles out bits of information sparingly and lets the reader make their own assumptions, which is one of the reasons I love this guy.
I am eager to continue with the story of Silk in book 2- Lake of the Long Sun.
November 12, 2024
The books that comprised The Book of the New Sun were mysterious and gripping. This is the first book in the Book of the Long Sun series. I found it mysterious and not gripping.
December 25, 2014
In Nightside the Long Sun begins a four part series of a three part cycle (The Solar Cycle includes the Book of the New Sun, The Book of the Long Sun, and The Book of the Short Sun) where Patera (a title for a priest, teacher, and headmaster of a school/temple) Silk receives a revelation from the Outsider. The Outsider, the least well known of the pantheon that Silk preaches about and gives sacrifices to, tasks Silk from saving his manteion from closure (school/temple). This leads to what can only be called a series of misadventures where Silk's desperate gamble to deal with the problem leads to the proverbial deal with the devil.
The novel takes place on a Dyson sphere called the Whorl. According to the blurbs describing the book, it's meant to be a generational worldship taking the inhabitants to another world to colonize. I see no evidence of it being a worldship in Wolfe's writing. Although I may have simply missed it, Wolfe's exposition tends to be brief. subtle and laconic.
This novel is written in a 3rd person, which is an interesting choice from an author who often writes in the 1st person. Wolfe builds flaws into the character of his narrators. For example In the first part of the cycle The Book of the New Sun the narrator Severian often lies. In the Wizard Knight the narrator is naive and unintelligent. In Latro in the Mist, the narrator is an amnesiac.
I did not give Nightside the Long Sun a perfect rating as it is more plot oriented that his previous works and plot structure simply is not his strong suit. The novel sort of meanders in and out of the plot and then just sort of ends. This is normally not a problem in his other novels. His characters travel through their worlds meeting fascinating people and seeing interesting places getting themselves into and out of trouble. It seems that Gene Wolfe attempted to combine a structured plot with his previous styles and did not quite pull it off.
All that being said I recommend this novel to anyone who has not read Gene Wolfe previously. Many who are new to Wolfe are turned off by his odd style but I find his novels to be some of the most rewarding to read. The difference in perspective and plot structure make this book an easier read that Wolfe's other novels.
The novel takes place on a Dyson sphere called the Whorl. According to the blurbs describing the book, it's meant to be a generational worldship taking the inhabitants to another world to colonize. I see no evidence of it being a worldship in Wolfe's writing. Although I may have simply missed it, Wolfe's exposition tends to be brief. subtle and laconic.
This novel is written in a 3rd person, which is an interesting choice from an author who often writes in the 1st person. Wolfe builds flaws into the character of his narrators. For example In the first part of the cycle The Book of the New Sun the narrator Severian often lies. In the Wizard Knight the narrator is naive and unintelligent. In Latro in the Mist, the narrator is an amnesiac.
I did not give Nightside the Long Sun a perfect rating as it is more plot oriented that his previous works and plot structure simply is not his strong suit. The novel sort of meanders in and out of the plot and then just sort of ends. This is normally not a problem in his other novels. His characters travel through their worlds meeting fascinating people and seeing interesting places getting themselves into and out of trouble. It seems that Gene Wolfe attempted to combine a structured plot with his previous styles and did not quite pull it off.
All that being said I recommend this novel to anyone who has not read Gene Wolfe previously. Many who are new to Wolfe are turned off by his odd style but I find his novels to be some of the most rewarding to read. The difference in perspective and plot structure make this book an easier read that Wolfe's other novels.
February 14, 2023
This is a beautiful book that I didn't appreciate nearly enough when I read it for the first time in high school. It follows Patera Silk, a priest on a generation ship. Silk's religion, it quickly becomes clear, is a cult of personality for the dictator who commissioned the ship to be built and installed a digital copy of his mind into its computers. His wife, children, and mistress got to be gods and goddesses too. But none of that matters, because Patera Silk finds real meaning in what he does. He had a religious experience and now he has a church to save.
A second paragraph?? Yes. The cover art that Richard Bober's painted for these books deserve special mention. Even in high school I thought they were gorgeous. Now I can't think of any book covers I like more.
A second paragraph?? Yes. The cover art that Richard Bober's painted for these books deserve special mention. Even in high school I thought they were gorgeous. Now I can't think of any book covers I like more.
May 9, 2022
For the while I was reading Book of the New Sun, it was practically all I had to do. The prose enchanted me and the story was far deeper than what I'd expected.
By the time I was going start this one, Book of the Long Sun, next addition on the Solar Cycle, I was still listening to the Alzabo Soup podcast and Severian was too fresh on my mind. So I dropped this book knowing I'll be back soon.
Untill a few weeks back, finally finished the podcast's coverage of the BotNS and I had my closure with it, one of my all time favorite series. It was time for a new adventure with Mr. Wolfe.
Nightside the Long Sun is quite different. I miss that magical prose but Silk as the main focus is more compelling, I think.
There are many intresting aspects to the story that I can see they all can come together building the bigger picture, soon enough.
This is my first read therefore naturally I'll miss a lot of details. Nevertheless, I'm paying attention and I think I have a relatively good grasp of this world, albeit night is still young.
Narrative being 3rd person is another big difference, seemingly it makes the story much simpler, right? I'm not so sure about that. The world is obviously the case, Blood is too kind for a mob boss, and their gods are suspiciously similar to AIs. Maybe they're all robots!
We just have to wait and see.
By the time I was going start this one, Book of the Long Sun, next addition on the Solar Cycle, I was still listening to the Alzabo Soup podcast and Severian was too fresh on my mind. So I dropped this book knowing I'll be back soon.
Untill a few weeks back, finally finished the podcast's coverage of the BotNS and I had my closure with it, one of my all time favorite series. It was time for a new adventure with Mr. Wolfe.
Nightside the Long Sun is quite different. I miss that magical prose but Silk as the main focus is more compelling, I think.
There are many intresting aspects to the story that I can see they all can come together building the bigger picture, soon enough.
This is my first read therefore naturally I'll miss a lot of details. Nevertheless, I'm paying attention and I think I have a relatively good grasp of this world, albeit night is still young.
Narrative being 3rd person is another big difference, seemingly it makes the story much simpler, right? I'm not so sure about that. The world is obviously the case, Blood is too kind for a mob boss, and their gods are suspiciously similar to AIs. Maybe they're all robots!
We just have to wait and see.
October 12, 2024
Esta primera parte trata la historia del Pátera Seda, sacerdote de barrio marginal que vive una experiencia mística justo antes que las mafias tomen su manteón (parroquia), y él estará dispuesto a cualquier cosa para recuperarlo.
Wolfe sacude los paladares con esta novela, entremezclando hombres, cyborgs, dioses, animales, con tal cantidad de palabras extrañas que es imposible no perderse. El comienzo es un shock, con múltiples referencias crípticas a dioses sin previa anestesia. por lo que hay que tomárselo con calma. Luego la agilidad de la historia, la multitud de nuevos personajes y sobre todo el final, terminan conquistando.
Tiene similitudes con el Sol Nuevo: aquel viaje del héroe, adquiriendo poder, en ambientes distintos pero de tono muy parecido.
Deja pidiendo más.
7.2.2005
Wolfe sacude los paladares con esta novela, entremezclando hombres, cyborgs, dioses, animales, con tal cantidad de palabras extrañas que es imposible no perderse. El comienzo es un shock, con múltiples referencias crípticas a dioses sin previa anestesia. por lo que hay que tomárselo con calma. Luego la agilidad de la historia, la multitud de nuevos personajes y sobre todo el final, terminan conquistando.
Tiene similitudes con el Sol Nuevo: aquel viaje del héroe, adquiriendo poder, en ambientes distintos pero de tono muy parecido.
Deja pidiendo más.
7.2.2005
December 13, 2022
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.
August 14, 2020
Young priest enlightened.
Faces demon, criminals.
Jacket has spoilers.
Faces demon, criminals.
Jacket has spoilers.
August 8, 2022
Mystery! Adventure! Daring acts of thievery! Birds!
I have bounced off this book once before, immediately after finishing my first reading of Urth of the New Sun and still hungry for more. I found Nightside jarring. Enjoyable, but different. I wound up dropping it after being so caught up in other media that I'd forgotten many of the details in the 80 pages or so I had read.
Returning to it now, I recalled what I had read as somewhat dull compared to New Sun and told myself I would power through long enough for Wolfe to get his hooks in me again.
To my pleasant surprise, this was wholly unnecessary. Unburdened by the expectation for this book to be "more New Sun" I found myself instead deeply hooked almost immediately. Hours flew by as I kept telling myself "one more chapter".
Somehow managing to feel like it was a slow burn yet moving at a whirlwind pace, Nightside was astonishingly entertaining from start to finish.
My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is that Nightside doesn't really feel like a complete story. Many plotlines begin, but very very few have what might even pass as a conclusion. This isn't really a problem though, seeing as it is merely the first volume in a larger novel, and I am already regretting taking time to write up anything instead of just moving right on along to Lake of the Long Sun.
I have bounced off this book once before, immediately after finishing my first reading of Urth of the New Sun and still hungry for more. I found Nightside jarring. Enjoyable, but different. I wound up dropping it after being so caught up in other media that I'd forgotten many of the details in the 80 pages or so I had read.
Returning to it now, I recalled what I had read as somewhat dull compared to New Sun and told myself I would power through long enough for Wolfe to get his hooks in me again.
To my pleasant surprise, this was wholly unnecessary. Unburdened by the expectation for this book to be "more New Sun" I found myself instead deeply hooked almost immediately. Hours flew by as I kept telling myself "one more chapter".
Somehow managing to feel like it was a slow burn yet moving at a whirlwind pace, Nightside was astonishingly entertaining from start to finish.
My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is that Nightside doesn't really feel like a complete story. Many plotlines begin, but very very few have what might even pass as a conclusion. This isn't really a problem though, seeing as it is merely the first volume in a larger novel, and I am already regretting taking time to write up anything instead of just moving right on along to Lake of the Long Sun.
December 19, 2022
Wolfe does it again. Every twist and turn seems hand placed by Wolfe. Every detail impresses itself upon my mind, and Silk might become my favorite character of all time after its said and done. He reminds me of a friend I made recently, a very fond friend. Wolfe seems to be focusing a bit more on imagery this time around (compared to New Sun) and it actually feels very refreshing from the not so visual novels of New Sun. Religion is at the forefront of this intriguing novel containing thieves, gods, priests, and whores. I can't wait to read the rest.
December 3, 2023
I don’t think this series is for me. I thought it was a sci fi but very little sci fi elements were there for me. Not all sci fi needs to be in space, but this one just seemed lacking for me.
August 26, 2021
this book is really easy to read and i'm having such a good time
February 16, 2016
Mr. Wolfe does not make it easy. This book drops you right in the middle of a whole new world without a single word of context. You learn only from experience (or sneaking a peek at wikipedia) what is going on and why, and then only ever partially. On top of this, you start in what must be the least interesting corner of that world mentally shouting at the protagonist to get on with it already. And that protagonist! This guy has Severian's (from the "new sun" series) aloof and tedious nature in spades. If you make it to half way, suddenly so much is happening that it's hard to keep track (There might be a vampire bat?). It being a Gene Wolf world, it seems like anything is possible in terms of technology or fantasy. Good luck getting your bearings.
Anway, fun read. Would recommend.
Anway, fun read. Would recommend.
January 4, 2012
I have enjoyed reading all the Gene Wolfe books that I've read, and I've read several. However, I have never quite been able to experience them as five star fiction. My guess is that many of the plaudits he has received are so complimentary because his genre is science fiction, and for science fiction, they are outstanding works. They do approach what I would call true literature much closer than the genre in general. But to me they don't quite make it.
November 26, 2014
I really wish they'd chop that bit about out of the Goodreads plot summary. It's a shame to drop that on people who haven't read it yet.
It's not that it's a spoiler in the sense of a major plot twist that you wouldn't otherwise see coming, but Wolfe does such an artful slow reveal of the setting that it's a shame to foul it up by telling everyone where they'll end up in advance.
It's not that it's a spoiler in the sense of a major plot twist that you wouldn't otherwise see coming, but Wolfe does such an artful slow reveal of the setting that it's a shame to foul it up by telling everyone where they'll end up in advance.
December 4, 2024
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. That having been said, it's difficult to judge the first book on its own.
May 13, 2013
Really tough world to get into....
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