Urth day

The first fire must have been kindled in an age now inconceivably remote. At that instant, I felt as some ancient must toward the end of his lifetime, when none save the eldest recalled the pure winds of bygone mornings. – Gene Wolfe, Urth of the New Sun

I’m currently reading Gene Wolfe’s Urth of the New Sun, and I guess you could say I’m enjoying it. It’s very similar to The Book of the New Sun, the previous four volumes to which this is more or less a direct sequel, only with a more generous helping of religious mysticism thrown in. It’s a difficult read, and it’s tough not to feel like I’m missing a lot of what’s going on in it, yet the book is not without its rewards.

Kaleidotrope contributor Bill Ward suggested that I check out Michael Andre-Driussi’s recent IROSF article about the book — and, more importantly, how it relates to and illuminates the previous four volumes — which I think I’ll do after I’m finished. (I’m about halfway through the book right now.) I also have the Gene Wolfe Book Club as a good go-to resource — for both insight into the books and the knowledge that I’m not the only one sometimes madly confused by them. And from there, it’s on to The Book of the Long Sun and its sequels, although I’m led to understand those books are much more accessible than the earlier ones.

We shall see.