I’ve been re-reading the first book in Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun as part of the Gene Wolfe Solar Cycle Book Club. I read Shadow of the Torturer and its sequel some years back and it was heady, dense stuff. I remember wanting a break before tackling the latter two books in the sequence. And never got around to them.

Then John Klima started the message board and I had an excuse to go back through the first two so that I can head on over to the next and then those after it. At the rate of one book a month it’s a pace I can handle.

A few thoughts on re-reading the first book:

While I was a bit lost on the first read through in places (not lost so much as bombarded by such a detailed and strange world that it was difficult to always know where you were) this one is much nicer and easier. I’m able to appreciate the language more and the unfamiliar terms and what they mean aren’t the distraction they were before.

I’ve been reading a chapter at a time when I can and each one is like a square of incredibly rich dark chocolate. Sweet and complex and satisfying. Just one will do, though there’s nothing to stop you from having more.

This time so far is a pure joy. I wonder how much is the experience I have with the world and characters and how much is me being a closer and more careful reader.

I know some people who have read some of Wolfe and didn’t like him. I can’t claim that was my experience, but I wonder if such people would have a change of heart on re-reading him.

I’m looking forward to the coming discussion.