Gene Wolfe's BOOK OF THE NEW SUN has been hailed by both critics and readers as quite possibly the best science fiction novel ever written. And yet at the same time, like another masterpiece of fiction, James Joyce's Ulysses, it's been deemed endlessly complex and filled with impenetrable mysteries. Now, however, in the first book-length investigation of Wolfe's literary puzzlebox, Robert Borski takes you inside the twisting corridors of the tetralogy and along the way reveals his solutions to many of the novel's conundrums and riddles, such as who really is Severian's lost twin sister (almost certainly not who you think) and why he believes the novel's main character may not even be the torturer Severian. Furthermore, and in essay after essay, Borski demonstrates how a single master key will unlock many of the book's secret relationships--all in the attempt to guide you through the labyrinth that is Gene Wolfe's BOOK OF THE NEW SUN.

Over the years sf and fantasy writer Gene Wolfe has proven himself to be adept at all lengths of fiction.

Now in "THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT," once again literary detective Robert Borski brings his critical eye and acumen to the wide array of Wolfe's work, from short stories to novellas to mega-book series.

Along the way he'll reveal to you the hidden alchemical structure of PEACE, why he thinks Latro and several others may be werewolves, what has happened to the missing twenty-four hours in 'Seven American Nights," what Biblical story is retold in the pulpish 'Tracking Song," who might or might not be an abo in "THE FIFTH HEAD OF CERBERUS," and how to navigate your way through dozens of other lupine mazes-all before concluding with an extended examination of Wolfe's dazzling, if often opaque, "BOOK OF THE SHORT SUN."

Gene Wolfe's BOOK OF THE NEW SUN has been hailed by both critics and readers as quite possibly the best science fiction novel ever written. And yet at the same time, like another masterpiece of fiction, James Joyce's Ulysses, it's been deemed endlessly complex and filled with impenetrable mysteries. Now, however, in the first book-length investigation of Wolfe's literary puzzlebox, Robert Borski takes you inside the twisting corridors of the tetralogy and along the way reveals his solutions to many of the novel's conundrums and riddles, such as who really is Severian's lost twin sister (almost certainly not who you think) and why he believes the novel's main character may not even be the torturer Severian. Furthermore, and in essay after essay, Borski demonstrates how a single master key will unlock many of the book's secret relationships--all in the attempt to guide you through the labyrinth that is Gene Wolfe's BOOK OF THE NEW SUN.

Hungry are the dead, unable to be sated. Still their nation grows. -Winifred Lewis Every culture has its tales of ghosts and ghoulies, dead things that stalk the night to prey upon the living. Stories of these creatures have been told around campfires from time immemorial, lending an added chill to the darkness beyond. They have been the subject of countless songs and poems. What is it that the living find so fascinating about the living dead? That is a question we'll leave you to answer. We're just happy to add to the mythology in this collection of poetry and short stories featuring "zombies, vampires, ghosts, and other dead things that want to eat you."

Over the years sf and fantasy writer Gene Wolfe has proven himself to be adept at all lengths of fiction.

Now in "THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT," once again literary detective Robert Borski brings his critical eye and acumen to the wide array of Wolfe's work, from short stories to novellas to mega-book series.

Along the way he'll reveal to you the hidden alchemical structure of PEACE, why he thinks Latro and several others may be werewolves, what has happened to the missing twenty-four hours in 'Seven American Nights," what Biblical story is retold in the pulpish 'Tracking Song," who might or might not be an abo in "THE FIFTH HEAD OF CERBERUS," and how to navigate your way through dozens of other lupine mazes-all before concluding with an extended examination of Wolfe's dazzling, if often opaque, "BOOK OF THE SHORT SUN,"