Lake of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun) [Hardcover]

Gene Wolfe (Author)

Book Description

Series: Book of the Long Sun | Publication Date: January 1994

To save his parish buildings, Patera Silk, a young priest, embarks on a quest that takes him on an odyssey into the hidden secrets of his world and into a huge spaceship illuminated by an artificial long sun.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wolfe continues the saga begun in Nightside the Long Sun with this curious mix of science and medieval culture in which gods possess people and robotic police patrol mysterious underground passageways. Patera Silk, a young cleric, attempts to ransom his parish buildings from creditors; in the process he uncovers a larger conspiracy involving the government of Viron and even the gods he worships. Emerging from the underground with his new knowledge, he finds himself chosen as leader ("Calde") of the masses and is simultaneously arrested. As a hero, Silk is good-natured but he lacks the energy and complexity required by his role. He often seems slighty lost, a lack of direction mirrored by the slowly developing narrative, which picks up only shortly before the finish. While the language is often inventive ("deadcoach" for horse-drawn hearse), it proves equally distracting; nor are the secondary characters distinctly depicted. Reference is made to the next volume of Wolfe's projected tetralogy, increasing the sense that this book is little more than a bridge between more important segments.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

When his parish is threatened by financial difficulties, Patera Silk finds himself embroiled with gangsters, prostitutes, and thieves as the accidental leader of a grassroots political movement. Set aboard a giant generation-starship whose populace has forgotten its history and original purpose, this sequel to Nightside the Long Sun ( LJ 3/15/93) takes its hero on a questlike journey in which truth is discovered at the expense of innocence. Wolfe imbues his straightforward narrative style with a wealth of nuance and subtextual complexity. Stylistic excellence and topnotch storytelling recommend this title for most libraries.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312854943
• ISBN-13: 978-0312854942
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,347,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gene Wolfe is winner of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and many other awards. In 2007, he was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. He lives in Barrington, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Often Slow, Often Wordy, Always Wolfe, May 7, 2004

By 

Silas Traitor (The South, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lake of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun) (Hardcover)

Silk, a young priest enlightened by a god, sets out in the company of thieves and prostitutes to save his temple from destruction.

Like the first book in the series, Lake of the Long Sun covers a period of about two days, giving it a plodding pace in which events and conversations are padded with an abundance of detail. Wolfe's style is not so puzzling here as in some of his other books, but still manages to be less than clear at times; happy news for some, sad for others. I read Wolfe when I want to pay close attention and still not know what just happened. Overall, the story is a political one, dealing with spies, intrigue, and the vile motives of shady leaders. Not my cup of tea, and thankfully kept mostly in the background. What fascinated me were the slowly unraveling secrets of the Whorl, all of its embedded mysteries, and the process of discovery.

4.0 out of 5 stars Design bouquet wilts under character strain, July 6, 2010

By 

M-I-K-E 2theD "2theD" (The Big Mango, Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lake of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun) (Mass Market Paperback)

Having just finished the first book of the tetralogy, Nightside of Long Sun, I quickly delved into the following book to relish in the exposure of details and telescoping personal relationships. I wasn't apprehensive knowing that a master like Wolfe steaming headfirst into the wonderful scene of the Whorl.

Two aspects of Lake of the Long Sun appealed to the science fiction reader in me. First, the flow of the plot yields intriguing hints to the origins of the nebulous Whorl. Bits of tech rear up occasionally, the mindset of the creators becomes topical and persuasive clues to the layout of the cities and landscape within the enticing chapters. Second, the physical structure of the Whorl is briefly brought to light and makes my spine tingle with anticipation of enlightening details of the grand panorama of the ambitious plot. Combine these two points together and the result is a sci-fi fusion tailored for the keen-eyed reader.

Layered atop this is a continuing dynamic intercourse of personal relationships, each strand of connection as interesting as the next. Through half of the novel, the interrelationships are sturdy, tried and tested and remained true. However, the last half sees a change in location and pace, whereas the associations weaken and warp to the point of questioning if these characters are of the same cast as before. The change is beyond dynamically steady, seemingly to the point of the bonds being forcibly stressed to create the rifts seen in the second half. I felt uncomfortable reading dialogue which should be familiar but comes across as unnatural, strained.

The fleeting glimpses of three-century-old technology of pre-Whorl creates exciting passages and the inclusion of hidden secrets makes for a multi-faceted reading experience, the fast change of pace and place threw me off the greater overview of the epic plot, ultimately ending in a predictable conclusion though through erratic means.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nightside of the long sun is merely a shadow now, June 27, 2002

By 

Matko Vladanovic (Zagreb, Croatia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lake of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun) (Hardcover)

In a world where everything stopped, where technology is avaliable to few self-selected ones, in a world where crime is just another usual happening, Patera Silk tries to find his way. Unaware of the hidden political intrigues, of the corrputed offices of the (we may call it) Holy church, unaware of the mythical creators of the interstellar ship which he calls his home, Patera Silk tries to bring back some kind of balance beetween 'gods' and people. And how and did he succedees in it is yet to be revealed. Nightside the long sun was long and boring book, book that was used as an intro to this 'brave new world'. Lake of the long sun is more quick-paced, and better written than the first book. There are no more endless monologues, just a well designed scheme of thought and conversation. If you read the first book and didn't like it, read this one, you'll be kindly surprised