Bibliomen

by Gene Wolfe, Ian Miller (Illustrator)

Originally subtitled "Twenty characters waiting for a book".A collection of one- or two-page stories about individual characters.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy

94 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Gene 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

Reviews

[John Kissane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of short pieces, originally published by Cheap Street, a fine press. Wolfe, a science fiction and fantasy writer of unequaled subtlety and depth, here turns out a series of brief sketches, most of them centered around, or least tangential to, books—hence the title.

Despite the author’s reputation, there’s a lot of humor here. There’s also mystery (was the car really innocent?), satire, (a radio station employee stands in for Gertrude Stein), and wonder. While it never attempts the heights of his great works, or even attempts them, there are moments that will linger. Banzai.

[Dennis Cahillane · Rating 4 out of 5]

20 laugh-out-loud funny vignettes, can be read in a single sitting.