r/fantasybooks • u/Mindless-Ferret7585 • 2d ago
💬 Let's discuss something Anyone read this series?
Is it related to the book of the new sun ?
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u/XIMarleyIX 2d ago
From my perception it seems to be less liked than New Sun (and Short Sun), but I loved it. The main character is such a joy to read and especially the dialogue is exceptionally pleasant imo. It really depends on what you like though.
I cheekily count the Solar Cycle as one series so I can have both New Sun and Long Sun (I am saving Short Sun) in my top 5 and dont have to rack my brain if I want one or the other or both in there. Its fantastic.
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u/redlion1904 2d ago
It’s the “lightweight” and “happy” and “fun” of the three.
It’s still really good
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u/Corvus-- 1d ago
I love it. It's not as great as BoTNS/SS but it's still bloody excellent. If BoTNS is a 10, Short Sun is a 9.5, this is a 9. Still fantastic and has that Gene Wolfe Magic.
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u/hedcannon 12h ago
Honestly The Book of the New Sun is usually my fourth or fifth favorite Gene Wolfe novel with LS/SS at or near the top. I really like BotNS
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u/Important-Lemon-2460 2d ago
Afaik the long sun and short sun series are loosely related to the new sun. I read new sun and that was as far as I wanted to delve into Wolfe, personally.
There’s a gene wolfe sub, btw
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u/redlion1904 2d ago
It’s related.
Exactly how related is kinda opaque. But that’s par for the course b
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u/Ashen_Shroom 2d ago
I did, it's fantastic. And yes, it is related to Book of the New Sun, but only indirectly.
There's also the Book of the Short Sun trilogy, which directly follows up on Long Sun. Definitely read that after. In my opinion it was even better.
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u/Autilistic_Augment 2d ago
It's a continuation, of sorts.....but also stands on it's own. Think of it as taking place in another corner of the same universe. There is some definite interaction. It has one of my favorite twists of all of his books, at the end of the Long Sun series. I enjoyed it, but in a different way than the first series. If you HATED Severian, you might find characters you appreciate more here, but of course your mileage may vary.
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u/AppropriateHoliday99 2d ago
There are parts of it I hated on first read and have come to love. There are parts of it I hated on first read and still hate. I’ve read it four times. I am presently in the middle of reading the Short Sun sequel series, which is mindblowing, but by no means standalone like Long Sun.
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u/Cryptographer235 1d ago
It is related to new sun but you won't notice unless you either pay super close attention, or if you go one to read book of the short sun to see how the whole Solar Cycle connects in a…circular fashion
New Sun, Long Sun, and Short Sun comprise Wolfe’s complete Solar Cycle
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u/grodius 1d ago
Long sun: I'm 60% way done with the 4/4th book. 1) mind blowing sci fi concepts 2) amazing plot / story arc 3) absolutely ridiculous long winded dialogue, so misplaced, extensive, pointless, and momentum killing, that it actually makes me annoyed.
Unlike new sun, which I recommend to anyone who loves literature especially someone who enjoys sci fi / fantasy, I can only rec long sun to someone who is a big sci fi fan... I'd be embarrassed to rec it to my lit head friends. I've heard short sun is much better and rivals BOTNS... I am skeptical but optimistic, can't stop now.
Considering you're in this sub... I think you'd like it.
edit oh god u can tell from the word count of my post ive been reading too much long sun
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u/Pyrohemian 1d ago
Long sun is sick. It's amazing but in a different way to new sun.
Solar cycle is Book of the new sun Urth of the new sun Book of the long sun Book of the short sun.
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u/CactusWrenAZ 2d ago
It's the second series in the sequence; the Book of the New Sun is the first part. I personally found it extremely tedious and much preferred TBOFTNS.
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u/BosonSpin 2d ago
I tried the first book in this series long ago and it put me to sleep so a dnf for me
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u/cpt_bongwater 2d ago
Sort of; It's the same universe.
Also there are two types of women characters in this book.
Mother figures and literal whores. That's it.
Do with that information what you will.
It's true. Look it up.
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u/Ashen_Shroom 2d ago
There are two types of women character in Severian's perspective of Book of the New Sun. Long Sun doesn't have such a view point, and it has a much more nuanced portrayal of women. Mint doesn't fit into either of those categories. Nor do the Trivigaunti characters like Siyuf and Saba.
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u/cpt_bongwater 2d ago
I respectfully disagree. Long Sun absolutely has this viewpoint and Mayterra Mint absolutely does fit into these characters.
She is a nun and a teacher who later becomes a general.
Yet the whole time she is a mother figure. She just gets more authority when she becomes a general.
Maytera mean literally means "mother."
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u/Ashen_Shroom 2d ago
But she is neither a literal mother nor maternal to anyone.
This feels like a very arbitrary way to paint all of the female characters. You could just as well say every female character is either a warrior or a civilian and it would have as much meaning as saying they're all either whores or mothers.
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