June 12, 2020
By popular demand, Thomas pays tribute to legendary Catholic science fiction author Gene Wolfe, who passed away last year. Unknown to the general public, Woolf was a science fiction writer’s science fiction writer, and many of his contemporaries considered him the best not only in the genre, but in American fiction at the time (Ursula Le (Gwyn said) “Our Melville”). Among today’s writers, one of his biggest fans is Neil Gaiman.
One critic described Woolf’s masterpiece as follows: new sun bookas a “Star Wars-style space opera written by GK Chesterton in the throes of religious conversion.”
Wolf also held a patent for the machine that made Pringles. That’s his face on the can.
In this episode, Fr. Brendon LaRoche comments on Wolfe’s work, and Wolfe’s friend Sandra Measel, a Catholic historian and science fiction expert, shares personal memories.
content
[2:48] Why Fr. Brendon likes Gene Wolfe
[4:14] Mysterious, interesting and evocative comparison between Bradbury and Chesterton
[13:23] Woolf’s place in the world of science fiction and detective fiction
[16:50] Discussion of “Under Hill,” a sci-fi treatment of medieval characters.
[22:57] The nature and possibilities of “genre” fiction
[32:03] Sandra Measel’s involvement in science fiction and her friendship with Gene Wolfe
[35:21] Woolf’s unique and strange mind, extensive reading, and vocabulary made Sandra a masterpiece.
[38:01] Wolf’s conversion to Catholicism and devotion to his wife, SF Catholics of the World
[40:04] Woolf’s masterpiece as Augustine’s Confessions. Psychic functions of fantasy
[46:00] premise and theme new sun book
[52:26] Sacramentality and Symbol Treatment [spoilers
here]
[1:02:38] Sandra’s work as a master costumer, influence on Wolfe’s Severian invention
[1:06:11] Sandra talks about Catholicism in Woolf’s writings and his esotericism
[1:10:05] Woolf’s Subtle Allusions and Puzzles
[1:20:44] Woolf’s treatment of sexuality. Torture and illegal pleasure are two sides of the same coin.
[1:27:58] The beginning of “The Fifth Head of Cerberus”
[1:30:52] Colorful anecdotes about Wolf and other science fiction legends. A look back at how the scene has changed
link
Recommended starting point: best of gene wolfe
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Gene-Wolfe-Definitive-Retrospective/dp/076532136X
new sun book Divided into 2 books:
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Claw-First-Half-Book/dp/0312890176/
https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Citadel-Second-Half-Book/dp/0312890184/
Read the short story “Under Hill” http://www.infinitematrix.net/stories/shorts/under_hill.html
Woolf’s essay on Tolkien, “The Best Introduction to Mt.”
http://www.scifiwright.com/2011/05/gene-wolfe-on-jrr-tolkien-the-best-introduction-to-the-mountains/
Letter from Tolkien to Gene Wolfe
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Letter_to_Gene_Wolfe#:~:text=On%207%20Novel%201966%2C%20J.RR,%20Footnote%20is%20in%20Script.
Interview with Wolf about his Catholic faith https://www.gwern.net/docs/fiction/1992-jordan.pdf
Sandra Miesel “Conversations with Catholic Science Fiction Writers”
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2009/08/10/a-conversation-with-catholic-sf-writers/
Two different (non-Catholic) podcasts that are very helpful in exploring Wolfe’s wide variety of works: The Gene Wolfe Literary Podcast (https://www.claytemplemedia.com/the-gene-wolfe-literary-podcast) and Arzabo soup (https://alzabosoup.libsyn.com/).
Follow-up comment from Sandra Measel: “A recent book about how the field was run in the good old days by Alec Nevra Lee is amazing.
My novel was DREAMRIDER, which was later expanded as SHAMAN and published in paperback by Baen Books (1989). I co-edited with Paul Kelly a scholarly book on the religion of JRR Tolkien’s works, LIGHT BEYOND ALL SHADOW. With David Drake, I co-edited two anthologies about science fiction writers influenced by Kipling, HEADS TO THE STORM and A SEPARATE STAR. Edited or packaged books by Paul Anderson, Gordon R. Dixon, and Andre Norton.
Also, how did I forget to mention my most successful publication, Da Vinci Hooks, co-authored with Karl Olson? ”
Other novels mentioned include:
Written by Gene Wolf: latro (series), new sun urus, long sun book (series)
paul anderson supreme holy war
james blish question of conscience
frank herbert dunes
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