Ah it explains that? I guess I'll get to that part. Yea I don't know what that term might be or if there is a term for it, but I really enjoy novels that use that technique effectively. You might like Crichton's "Eaters of the Dead," which probably takes the technique further than anything else I've read.
Hah, yea I've had things like that happen. When I'm trying to pronounce something differently I always have to hesitate and think when I come to the word. Reading is such a subconscious action that it's hard reverse a long-time habit.
If you haven't read 'Latro in the Mist' though I'd recommend that. It's a written account much like 'New Sun,' but in this case the narrator forgets everything each day so he writes it all down, instead of 'New Sun' where the narrator remembers everything clearly.
Thanks! 'There Are Doors' sounds great - I've read books that are told in 3rd person but still subjective to one or more of the characters, but nothing quite like the way that sounds. I also subvocalize waay too much, which is probably why I don't read very fast, so I'm the same way with word pronunciations. In the worst cases I just skip the word entirely when reading, and many times I find that I've been pronouncing one wrong in my head the entire time and it's almost impossible to revert to the real pronunciation.
Haha, yea I love how he pulls us right into the world by assuming that those are common to us. I didn't look them up at the time though, so it's interesting to find out what they mean.
That's awesome that it was through one of his words that you found out about the book, and I now see what you mean about how none of his words are really invented. My favorite one so far is baluchither. I thought of it as an elephant type animal but without a trunk, since no trunk was mentioned anywhere. In my mind I also gave it more of a protruding, lizard-like head, for what reason I don't really know. Just recently found out that it in fact refers to a huge, now extinct, hornless rhinoceros (baluchitherium or indricothere), which looks surprisingly close to what I envisioned.
My first introduction to Wolfe was through Able's journey in 'The Wizard Knight,' which I loved. Then I followed all of Latro's accounts, which were somewhat harder to get into but my fascination with Greek and Egyptian mythology was more than enough to keep my interest. And now it's on to Severian.
'Peace' sounds great though, and I'm sure I'll be delving into that and some of his older work once I finish all of these.
Great compilation of words here. I had read and really loved some of Wolfe's newer stuff before I picked up the first in this series, but I didn't get past the first few pages before getting sidetracked and eventually losing the book. I recently finally found another copy and now I don't know how I ever stopped in the first place! It's such a slow, rich read, especially considering the speed at which I read things I'm genuinely interested in, that between the New Sun and Long Sun I bet I have another good year's worth at least to enjoy.
Thanks for the list! I'll definitely check back here as I read to some of the more mysterious words I come across. I love his writing style and use of both old and invented words. For the most part there's always just enough context for me to imagine what they refer to, but at the same time I love how he treats you like you should already know what they mean, even when you really shouldn't know, and in that way allows your imagination more room to wonder, which is what good fiction should do.
Comments by 25513195
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Nice - I'm sure that will come in handy.
July 21, 2010
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Ah it explains that? I guess I'll get to that part. Yea I don't know what that term might be or if there is a term for it, but I really enjoy novels that use that technique effectively. You might like Crichton's "Eaters of the Dead," which probably takes the technique further than anything else I've read.
July 7, 2010
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Hah, yea I've had things like that happen. When I'm trying to pronounce something differently I always have to hesitate and think when I come to the word. Reading is such a subconscious action that it's hard reverse a long-time habit.
If you haven't read 'Latro in the Mist' though I'd recommend that. It's a written account much like 'New Sun,' but in this case the narrator forgets everything each day so he writes it all down, instead of 'New Sun' where the narrator remembers everything clearly.
July 3, 2010
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Thanks! 'There Are Doors' sounds great - I've read books that are told in 3rd person but still subjective to one or more of the characters, but nothing quite like the way that sounds. I also subvocalize waay too much, which is probably why I don't read very fast, so I'm the same way with word pronunciations. In the worst cases I just skip the word entirely when reading, and many times I find that I've been pronouncing one wrong in my head the entire time and it's almost impossible to revert to the real pronunciation.
June 30, 2010
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Haha, yea I love how he pulls us right into the world by assuming that those are common to us. I didn't look them up at the time though, so it's interesting to find out what they mean.
That's awesome that it was through one of his words that you found out about the book, and I now see what you mean about how none of his words are really invented. My favorite one so far is baluchither. I thought of it as an elephant type animal but without a trunk, since no trunk was mentioned anywhere. In my mind I also gave it more of a protruding, lizard-like head, for what reason I don't really know. Just recently found out that it in fact refers to a huge, now extinct, hornless rhinoceros (baluchitherium or indricothere), which looks surprisingly close to what I envisioned.
Pretty awesome what words can do.
June 26, 2010
25513195 commented on the list more-or-less-temporary-urth-list
My first introduction to Wolfe was through Able's journey in 'The Wizard Knight,' which I loved. Then I followed all of Latro's accounts, which were somewhat harder to get into but my fascination with Greek and Egyptian mythology was more than enough to keep my interest. And now it's on to Severian.
'Peace' sounds great though, and I'm sure I'll be delving into that and some of his older work once I finish all of these.
June 26, 2010
25513195 commented on the list more-or-less-temporary-urth-list
Great compilation of words here. I had read and really loved some of Wolfe's newer stuff before I picked up the first in this series, but I didn't get past the first few pages before getting sidetracked and eventually losing the book. I recently finally found another copy and now I don't know how I ever stopped in the first place! It's such a slow, rich read, especially considering the speed at which I read things I'm genuinely interested in, that between the New Sun and Long Sun I bet I have another good year's worth at least to enjoy.
June 25, 2010
25513195 commented on the list gene-wolfe
Thanks for the list! I'll definitely check back here as I read to some of the more mysterious words I come across. I love his writing style and use of both old and invented words. For the most part there's always just enough context for me to imagine what they refer to, but at the same time I love how he treats you like you should already know what they mean, even when you really shouldn't know, and in that way allows your imagination more room to wonder, which is what good fiction should do.
June 25, 2010