The Washington Post has called Gene Wolfe "the finest writer the science fiction world has yet produced." This volume joins together two of...
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reviews
Apr 27, 2009
Andreas
rated it: 
My main reason to buy "Castle of Days" were the articles about "The Book of the New Sun". They provide interesting background information and also reveal something about the author himself and his work as a professional writer. A must for every Wolfe aficionado. I considered the included "Book of Days" as a nice bonus but nothing more.
Recently I have started to read Wolfe's short stories that are in my possession and looked for the first time at the stor More...
Recently I have started to read Wolfe's short stories that are in my possession and looked for the first time at the stor More...
Aug 31, 2011
David
rated it: 
If I was just rating the Book of Days section, it'd be 5 stars. Gene Wolfe is a masterful short story writer, and I had to re-read several of them before I could move on. Superb, dense, clever prose. Cheeky, but with a depth that belies (and/or is accentuated by) the cheekiness (or vice versa). So amazing, cannot recommend it more. The rest is still excellent, easily 4 star material if not 5 in places on writing and reading and books and what have you, and, having just finished The Book of the N
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Mar 10, 2009
Sam
rated it: 
Wolfe is my favorite author, so I was looking forward to read some of his metawriting. While some of them are very creative and fun (he interviews himself, does an epistolary account of publishing deal in, and has characters from the New Son tell jokes in various "essays") many were rambling and didactic.
The short story collection at the beginning of the book has a very interesting premise: a themed story for a bunch of major holidays. You're supposed to read the stories on More...
The short story collection at the beginning of the book has a very interesting premise: a themed story for a bunch of major holidays. You're supposed to read the stories on More...
Jul 07, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
++++++++++++++++++++
Sep '09: i discovered a bunch of my What Do I Read Next? reviews from the mid-90s when i was on a serious SF-canon reading tear (and, apparently, averse to capital letters).
++++++++++++++++++++
Plot Summary: a collection of stories, each of which is attached to a particular holiday or celebration day (e.g., Christmas Eve, Homecoming Day, Armistice Day). furthermore, as per the author's introduction, each story should be read only when in the mind frame More...
Sep '09: i discovered a bunch of my What Do I Read Next? reviews from the mid-90s when i was on a serious SF-canon reading tear (and, apparently, averse to capital letters).
++++++++++++++++++++
Plot Summary: a collection of stories, each of which is attached to a particular holiday or celebration day (e.g., Christmas Eve, Homecoming Day, Armistice Day). furthermore, as per the author's introduction, each story should be read only when in the mind frame More...
Jan 27, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
Gene Wolfe's collection CASTLE OF DAYS is a must for fans, especially those who enjoyed his four-volume great work the Book of the New Sun. It consists of three parts, "Gene Wolfe's Book of Days", "The Castle of the Otter", and "Castle of Days."
"Gene Wolfe's Book of Days" is a collection of some of Wolfe's short stories, each representing a particular holiday. While these pieces are generally lighter and less substantial than Wolfe's other shor More...
"Gene Wolfe's Book of Days" is a collection of some of Wolfe's short stories, each representing a particular holiday. While these pieces are generally lighter and less substantial than Wolfe's other shor More...
Jul 18, 2007
Ross
rated it:
I haven’t read this whole book yet, merely the section previously published as The Castle of the Otter, which is Wolfe's own dissection and explanation of his (in-progress) dying earth epic. Reasonably spoiler-free, this appendix to The Book of the New Sun is well worth reading for insights into its creation and especially for the glossary to the archaic words peppered throughout the text. The rest of Castle of Days appears to be a short story and essay collection, and I fully plan to read it, b
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Apr 15, 2010
Larry
rated it:
Some of the stories are a bit weak. A few bear more than a slight resemblance to Asimov's old "shaggy dog" stories. On the other hand, it's interesting to watch Wolfe in the process of "finding his voice". Kindof comforting to know Wolfe didn't just spring from the head of Zeus fully formed:)
Jul 10, 2008
Zepp
rated it:
Bits and great bits and great great bits.
Anyone who loves the Severian books will in mesmerelda delight, bite through.
The Book of Days section recalls the best of Ovid's Fasti and pillow books couchant.
Anyone who loves the Severian books will in mesmerelda delight, bite through.
The Book of Days section recalls the best of Ovid's Fasti and pillow books couchant.
Sep 27, 2008
A. Walter
rated it:
Gene Wolfe is a master of the short story. This collection combines both his fiction and non-fiction. A very insightful collection.
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