Questions About Nightside the Long Sun

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Answered Questions (2)

I'm interested in reading this because I like generation ship stories, but I don't want to read The Book of the New Sun cycle first. Am I going to miss out on much?

Andronikos YES! Book of the New Sun is quite literally the best book series I have ever read.... EVER. I've just started Nightside of the Long Sun, but from what…moreYES! Book of the New Sun is quite literally the best book series I have ever read.... EVER. I've just started Nightside of the Long Sun, but from what I know from the original series, Wolfe is (and these aren't my words) "the master of the casual revelation." EVERYTHING is potentially crucial, and there are so many subliminal plots (I wouldn't say sub-plots, because they don't occur in any sort of delineation) that his books resemble more puzzles than linear stories.

So in other words... yes, you'll miss ALOT. Everything, in fact, and not just in terms of failing to comprehend sections of the plot that depend on other sections of the plot you previously thought superfluous: you'll miss the Book of the New Sun itself... which is awesome...

Anyway: if that sounds confusing... it's because it is. But you'll see. I'm not so much a Gene Wolfe fan as a Gene Wolfe addict: if you get into the Severian's world, you will be hooked for life, guaranteed. After I finished The Citadel of the Autarch I thought I'd take a break from Wolfe... here I am three months later, casually passing by Nightside of the Long Sun in my local library, fingers brushing the cover, quivering a little...

You don't know you have Wolfe withdrawal until you understand the symptoms. No: you haven't lost an appreciation for literature, you're just trying to read someone else after reading The Book of the New Sun while you could be reading another Gene Wolfe book... even though you don't WANT to read another Gene Wolfe book because he'll make your head implode...

Anyway, that's my two cents: READ THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN! (less)

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I read The Book of the New Sun and absolutely loved it! However, knowing what I know about Gene Wolfe... do I have to read The Urth of the New Sun to understand this?

Michael Smyth No. *Urth of the New Sun* helps explain *The Book of the New Sun* but you do not need to read *Urth* to enjoy or understand The Long Sun series.
…moreNo. *Urth of the New Sun* helps explain *The Book of the New Sun* but you do not need to read *Urth* to enjoy or understand The Long Sun series.
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Unanswered Questions (1)

By the end of Urth of the New Sun I was thoroughly tired of religious overtones of Severian's journey. And I don't particularly like the use of time travel to tie up every loose end. Despite all the sci-fi elements the BotNS did not feel like sci-fi to me - all thanks to the fantasy style of the narration chosen by GW. Is Long Sun / Short Sun same with the faith/religion being so pronounced in the story?

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