Vance is definitely not as cryptic as Wolfe. But I have read a lot of Vance books and I can definitely say that you wont regret reading his stuff, especially Dying Earth and Lyonesse!
Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast is really good and has a lot of similar "vibes" to Book of The New Sun and Gene Wolfe in general. Some of Michael Moorcocks novels like "The Dancers at The End of Time" have the decedent dying earth premise and interesting weird characters out of this world. Same thing with "Glorianna" even though it's a novel kinda rooted in our world and inspired by it. Most of it takes place in one big castle where there's intrigue and stuff but with some usual multiverse shenanigans that Moorcock incorporated in pretty much all of his books. Another one that people highly recommend for the unreliable narrator is the "Between the Worlds" quartet - I haven't read it but I heard many good things.
The Soldier books are actually my favorite writing by Wolfe. They’re definitely simpler but still contain puzzles. I really feel like he brings the time and people of the ancient world to life. His shirt stories are incredible as well, one of my favorites is Tracking Song. It’s such a cool read. And I really liked the wizard knight books too. Gabbed the first one at the airport boarding a long flight and I didn’t want to get off the plane and drink with my friends for two weeks in Berlin, we’ll almost =] 🌊🌊🌊🏄♀️🏄♂️
Great tips; I am currently reading Terra Ignota and have read all the other books except Wolfes Long and Short Sun, been a while since reading New Sun! Has to go on the TBR list again with Long and Short Sun. All the best.
I felt a bit stuck after reading The Solar Cycle too, but after a few years my reading life is pretty rich. I used to read sci-fi pretty exclusively but now read all sorts of literature. The best thing (for me at least) is to read widely. You should check out The Islanders or The Adjacent by Christopher Priest, and Little, Big by John Crowley, in addition to books other commenters have mentioned (If you haven't already). What's strange is that I've moved away from 'puzzle' books that can be solved to books that are more interpretative (Like the aforementioned authors). Enjoy,
I’ve been pushing WizardKnight on my channel for a while now lol hoping I can get more people to jump in. Do you have a review on it I missed? Would love to hear your point of view on it.
No one will ever tell this story, there's much money involved, but 100 Years of Solitude is plagiarism. Márquez read Elena Garro's manuscript for her debut novel, 'Los recuerdos del porvenir (Recollections of things to Come), a whole decade before his own debut novel! Everything that he suppossedly invented, Elena Garro had been making since the early 50s. Please, read her novel.
Just wanted to throw out there Solenoid by Mircea Cartarescu. It's a crazy weird and surreal/magical realism book about a highschool teacher in communist Romania. It's very reminiscent of Gene Wolfe, but also very much doing it's own thing. Seriously a 10/10 for me, it's one of those books that's best gone into blind.
I have often felt that 'spice' in the Dune universe is a very direct correlation to 'alzabo' in New Sun. So, even Dune is a worthwhile read after New Sun.
Im in the process of buying all Jack Vance books after reading this
Vance is definitely not as cryptic as Wolfe. But I have read a lot of Vance books and I can definitely say that you wont regret reading his stuff, especially Dying Earth and Lyonesse!
Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast is really good and has a lot of similar "vibes" to Book of The New Sun and Gene Wolfe in general. Some of Michael Moorcocks novels like "The Dancers at The End of Time" have the decedent dying earth premise and interesting weird characters out of this world. Same thing with "Glorianna" even though it's a novel kinda rooted in our world and inspired by it. Most of it takes place in one big castle where there's intrigue and stuff but with some usual multiverse shenanigans that Moorcock incorporated in pretty much all of his books.
Another one that people highly recommend for the unreliable narrator is the "Between the Worlds" quartet - I haven't read it but I heard many good things.
I'd like to call out the books of David Zindell as a similar vibe to New Sun. Loved them
M. John Harrison, especially his Viriconium cycle.
We're reading "Light" next month
Further recommendations: A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay, The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson, and Tales of Zothique by Clark Ashton Smith.
Thanks, I made a video about A Voyage To Arcturus erlier this year
@@MediaDeathCult I’ll have to check it out! Also have you ever done a video on Olaf Stapledon’s Star Maker? Another recommendation!
Amazing video as always. One question, I remember watching a video of you about the best 100 science fiction books and I couldn’t find it anymore
Good question
The Soldier books are actually my favorite writing by Wolfe. They’re definitely simpler but still contain puzzles. I really feel like he brings the time and people of the ancient world to life. His shirt stories are incredible as well, one of my favorites is Tracking Song. It’s such a cool read. And I really liked the wizard knight books too. Gabbed the first one at the airport boarding a long flight and I didn’t want to get off the plane and drink with my friends for two weeks in Berlin, we’ll almost =] 🌊🌊🌊🏄♀️🏄♂️
Stations of the Tide by Michael Swanwick is mentioned as an homage to Gene Wolfe and The Book of the New Sun.
Paul J. McAuley had Wolfe inspired Confluence trilogy..Also War of the Maps.
Great tips; I am currently reading Terra Ignota and have read all the other books except Wolfes Long and Short Sun, been a while since reading New Sun! Has to go on the TBR list again with Long and Short Sun. All the best.
Man, I lucked into a hardcover copy of Too Like The Lightning for cheap recently, and I'm looking forward to checking it out.
Thanks
Wolfe was also a fan of G.K. Chesterton (e.g. 'The Man Who Was Thursday').
I feel blessed today ! Thank you good sir!
I felt a bit stuck after reading The Solar Cycle too, but after a few years my reading life is pretty rich. I used to read sci-fi pretty exclusively but now read all sorts of literature. The best thing (for me at least) is to read widely. You should check out The Islanders or The Adjacent by Christopher Priest, and Little, Big by John Crowley, in addition to books other commenters have mentioned (If you haven't already). What's strange is that I've moved away from 'puzzle' books that can be solved to books that are more interpretative (Like the aforementioned authors). Enjoy,
I’ve been pushing WizardKnight on my channel for a while now lol hoping I can get more people to jump in. Do you have a review on it I missed? Would love to hear your point of view on it.
I haven't made a video about it, maybe next year
Nobody, nobody talks about what is the closest to Book of the New Sun and that is The Starbridge Chronicles by Paul Park.
Yes thank you someone said it. Also the Confluence series by Paul Mcauley
Here is my suggestion - challenge to you - Carlos Fuentes ”Terra Nostra”
Add Ridley walker to that list
No one will ever tell this story, there's much money involved, but 100 Years of Solitude is plagiarism.
Márquez read Elena Garro's manuscript for her debut novel, 'Los recuerdos del porvenir (Recollections of things to Come), a whole decade before his own debut novel! Everything that he suppossedly invented, Elena Garro had been making since the early 50s.
Please, read her novel.
Just wanted to throw out there Solenoid by Mircea Cartarescu. It's a crazy weird and surreal/magical realism book about a highschool teacher in communist Romania. It's very reminiscent of Gene Wolfe, but also very much doing it's own thing. Seriously a 10/10 for me, it's one of those books that's best gone into blind.
Silk for caldé
I have often felt that 'spice' in the Dune universe is a very direct correlation to 'alzabo' in New Sun. So, even Dune is a worthwhile read after New Sun.
Terra Ignota
Book of the long sun is a must read, so good, maybe even better than new sun! Silk for Calde.