Gene Wolfe





Gene Wolfe

Author profile


born
in New York, New York, The United States
May 07, 1931

gender
male

genre

influences


About this author

Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is 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 is 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. LeGuin, 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 Unive...more


Average rating: 3.99 · 72,064 ratings · 4,750 reviews · 264 distinct works · Similar authors
Shadow and Claw (The Book o...
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The Shadow of the Torturer ...
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Sword and Citadel (The Book...
4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 4,118 ratings — published 1994 — 5 editions
The Claw of the Conciliator...
4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 3,274 ratings — published 1981 — 21 editions
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“My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure.”
Gene Wolfe

“All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it.”
Gene Wolfe

“We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. When soldiers take their oath they are given a coin, an asimi stamped with the profile of the Autarch. Their acceptance of that coin is their acceptance of the special duties and burdens of military life—they are soldiers from that moment, though they may know nothing of the management of arms. I did not know that then, but it is a profound mistake to believe that we must know of such things to be influenced by them, and in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic. The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all.”
Gene Wolfe, Shadow and Claw

Polls

Spring/Summer 2013 Series First-Round - What series will we be reading after the Wheel of Time and Night Angel?

 
  32 votes, 15.8%

 
  26 votes, 12.9%

 
  19 votes, 9.4%

 
  19 votes, 9.4%

 
  17 votes, 8.4%

 
  12 votes, 5.9%

 
  12 votes, 5.9%

 
  11 votes, 5.4%

 
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  10 votes, 5.0%

 
  7 votes, 3.5%

 
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  6 votes, 3.0%

 
  5 votes, 2.5%

 
  4 votes, 2.0%

 
  2 votes, 1.0%

 
  2 votes, 1.0%

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Beyond Reality: Didn't read our Books of the Month? 19 101 May 02, 2009 11:35am  
Challenge: 50 Books: Evan's 50 for 2009 42 387 Sep 08, 2009 11:24am  


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