Soldier of the Mist

From the start, Gene Wolfe has consistently maintained his image as a classically educated writer, with a hugely gifted imagination, and an ability to use language which is far beyond what most writers today (or yesterday, for that matter) will ever aspire to. He's a brilliant short story writer *and* a fully developed novelist. The fact that he just *happens* to be writing what is probably best called "science fantasy" is a secondary issue. With "The Book Of The New Sun" series, he carved out a lasting legacy for more than a few generations of readers yet to come.We're doubly fortunate, though, that he hasn't limited himself to *only* the many books in the various "Sun" collections he's most famous for. While it's hard to say I could like *anything* better than THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER---SOLDIER OF THE MIST is easily one of my *favorite* Wolfe novels. The setting is Greece in 479 B.C. Soldier Latro has a head injury. Because of this, his memory can only last about 12 hours. So, he writes on a scroll what happens to him each day, and then reads what he's written first thing every morning. A simple premise. But---oh, my! The story that unfolds is one of Wolfe's most unusual and intriguing books. Other reviewers have explained some of the events that Latro experiences. However, there's another aspect of this novel that I find most interesting of all. Because of his memory problem, Latro is very much trapped in "the eternal now." Yet, as the reader, remembering all that has occured from page one, you gradually become aware of a variety of changes in his environment, of which Latro is totally unaware. Wolfe handles this like the Master that he is. It's an example of what I like to call *true* fantasy (as opposed to how most people use that term). It really is a great book.It raises the question, for me, as to what extent *any* of us can completely trust our own perceptions about the world, or even about ourselves. What, I wonder, could *I* be overlooking as I move along, from day to day...things that are totally obvious, not hidden...but which I'm just not able to see? I don't fret about it. But I do wonder, from time to time.READ THIS ONE!

Gene Wolfe has accomplished what many writers have attempted and almost none accomplished, bring an ancient culture back to life. Soldier of the Mist works best as an illustration of Hellenic life and pantheism as a complex,living, and mulifaceted religon, not simply a collection of antique fairy tales of Gods and Monsters. He returned not just to the scene of golden age greece, but to it's mindset as well. This is not an easy book to read or understand. Only a very experienced and self assured writer would attempt to take liberties with the narrative story telling as Wolfe did. Fortunatly for us, he suceeds. His reexploring of the homeric hero is challenging inasmuch as how much it differs from our modern conceptions of heroism. Altogether, for anyone forever in love with Hellenic culture, this is an enjoyable must read.

A brilliant concept, finely executed. A powerful vehicle with which to tempt readers into the classics.

Soldier of the Mist and its sequel, Soldier of Arete, are described as a fantasy novels, but, the occasional mystic element notwithstanding, they're really first-rate, at times audacious, historical novels. It does help to know something about ancient Mediterranean history when reading this series, to pick up the references, but for the most part, the material is very accessible. That's not a surprise, since Gene Wolfe is one of the finest prose stylists in English: who else would not only try to create Pindaric prose, but actually succeed in making it sound plausible? Like the best mythologies, Soldier of the Mist works marvelously on multiple levels, but at the very least, it's an engaging adventure story. Keeping Latro's mind a blank slate works surprisingly well; I thought it would become a tiresome device very quickly, but Wolfe keeps introducing elements at just the right pace to keep us interested, without stretching the bounds of credibility.

With `Soldier of the Mist' Gene Wolfe attempts to tell a story that would stop any other author in their tracks. `Soldier of the Mist' is the diary of Latro, a soldier of ancient Rome (maybe) who suffered a head wound on the battlefield. Every day when Latro awakens, he has a new case of amnesia. Not only does he not know who he is, but whatever he learns lasts only one day. He has found travelling companions in his search for his identity, and every morning they have him read his diary to learn who he is. Every night he makes new entries, hoping they will be useful in the coming day. The next morning he will face the world as new, knowing only what he's written and what he sees in front of him. Latro wanders ancient Greece dealing with war, politics, gods and goddesses. His lack of knowledge and prejudices let him (and you) see the world of the ancients in an entirely new light.