Latro in the Mist: Amazon.ca: Gene Wolfe: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In his foreword to Latro in the Mist, which pairs Gene Wolfe's acclaimed historical fantasies Soldier of the Mist (1986) and Soldier of Arete (1989), Wolfe reveals that the two novels are in fact his translations of the diary writings of Latro, a Roman mercenary wounded in battle in ancient Greece. Latro's head wound ruined his short-term memory, but bestowed upon him the gift of conversing with gods and goddesses.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"SF's greatest novelist, and overall one of America's finest. . . a wonder, yes, a genius."-The Washington Post Book World

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the Most Original Piece of Ancient Greek Fiction, May 6 2004

By

tyler hunter (Savannah, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latro in the Mist (Paperback)

The soldier series was my introduction to Wolfe. I was sitting around the bookstore reading the backs of random books in an attempt to find a new author. Sure enough the premise of this two-part book caught my attention. The book draws its premise, characters, locations, and themes from ancient greek culture and mythology, but that's were it ends. While the main character may participate in actually historical battles and locations, the actually history isn't the main focus behind the plot line in my opinion. I say my opinion cause there is great debate surrounding whether Latro is a historical statement. Wolfe uses the Ancient Greek setting as vehicle to drive his story and doesn't let the history become the story. Latro moves about Ancient Greece lost and things occur in a very haphazard manner and yet some how Wolfe manages to tie it all together in single stroke. I've read novels were writers write them selves into holes and attempt to end the impossible and fail. Wolfe ends more then the impossible and does it better then I've ever seen it done. Ill recommend this book to any one who enjoys Wolfe, enjoys Greek mythology, or simply hates typical cliché fantasy trash. And if you haven't read Wolfe I suggest grabbing Book of the New Sun, which is more or less considered his finest work.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Wolfe, switching gears, Aug 26 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Latro in the Mist (Paperback)

"Soldier in the Mist" and "Soldier of Arete" feel like an exercise, Wolfe consciously attempting to develop a storyline where the protagonist and setting are as contrary to the "Book of the New Sun" as possible. Here, Latro suffers from daily memory loss, where Severian captures everything, even if he is unaware of it. Latro travels in the dawning world of our distant past, where Man is not yet master of the world; Severian proceeds on a shriveled Urth where Man's great accomplishments are long spoiled and forgotten. The link is Wolfe at his best, weaving his rich, layered, veiled and often startling prose in first-person perspective.

Wolfe's imagination is so rich, and his narrative skills so great that you wonder whether these books can actually be memoirs as they are presented. If you marveled at the "Book of the New Sun", you will enjoy Wolfe effort at switching gears so completely. Latro's terse commentary may also be a welcome change from Severian's verbosity, but there are no creatures as wonderful as Dorcas here. Whether the "Soldier" books end-up as more than just an exercise to Exorcize "Book of the New Sun" really depends; Wolfe owes us two more books before we can make a full comparison.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Wolfe, switching gears, Aug 26 2003

By

Doug Wyatt (Ypsilanti, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latro in the Mist (Paperback)

"Soldier in the Mist" and "Soldier of Arete" feel like an exercise, Wolfe consciously attempting to develop a storyline where the protagonist and setting are as contrary to the "Book of the New Sun" as possible. Here, Latro suffers from daily memory loss, where Severian captures everything, even if he is unaware of it. Latro travels in the dawning world of our distant past, where Man is not yet master of the world; Severian proceeds on a shriveled Urth where Man's great accomplishments are long spoiled and forgotten. The link is Wolfe at his best, weaving his rich, layered, veiled and often startling prose in first-person perspective.

Wolfe's imagination is so rich, and his narrative skills so great that you wonder whether these books can actually be memoirs as they are presented. If you marveled at the "Book of the New Sun", you will enjoy Wolfe effort at switching gears so completely. Latro's terse commentary may also be a welcome change from Severian's verbosity, but there are no creatures as wonderful as Dorcas here. Whether the "Soldier" books end-up as more than just an exercise to Exorcize "Book of the New Sun" really depends; Wolfe owes us two more books before we can make a full comparison.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting idea results in one of Wolfe's lesser works
LATRO IN THE MIST collects Gene Wolfe's two novels SOLDIER OF THE MIST and SOLDIER OF ARETE, which chronicle the experiences of Latro, a Roman mercenary formerly fighting for the... Read more

Published on Aug 4 2003 by Christopher Culver

5.0 out of 5 stars Two of Wolfe's greatest novels in one lovely package
Having haunted used bookstores and libraries for a year or two for copies of SOLDIER IN THE MIST and SOLDIER OF ARETE, my zeal to buy this book the very day it came out was... Read more

Published on Jun 24 2003 by Jacob G Corbin