Shadows of the New Sun: Stories in Honor of Gene Wolfe
Now entering the fifth decade in his illustrious writing career, highlighted by such widely praised speculative fiction as the four-volume The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe is arguably the most revered literary craftsman of the genre. Although Wolfe has legions of fans, nowhere is the respect for his talents greater than among his colleagues, 18 of whom contributed playful and provocative stories to this volume published in his honor. Joe Haldeman pens an homage to Wolfe’s Nebula-winning novella, The Death of Dr. Island, featuring characters such as Holden Caulfield and various Wolfe protagonists occupying an imaginary island. In similar fashion, the main character in Nancy Kress’ “In Other Stories” is someone who literally loses herself in novels such as Emma and Anna Karenina. Each entry is introduced by the author’s personal recollections of Wolfe, and Wolfe even adds a few tales as bookends to the collection. While individually none of the pieces are award-worthy masterpieces, together they are guaranteed to give Wolfe devotees hours of reading pleasure. --Carl Hays