Soldier of Arete by Gene Wolfe

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Hello, Stranger.

Let's talk about Gene Wolfe's Soldier of Arete.

The Short of It

Plot: The great amnesiac adventure continues!
Page Count: 354
Award: None, but books one and three of the trilogy won.
Worth a read: No
Primary Driver: (Plot, World, or Character)
Bechdel Test: Fail.
Technobabble: None.
Review: A less-inspired continuation of the Latro's journey. Wolfe's love of obtuse allusions to historical events and figures would make this a compelling mystery if this was even remotely engaging. Neither characters or situations draw the reader in enough to make this feel like more than a slog. Actual quality of writing is quite high - deft use of imagery, poetic phrasing that avoids feeling overdone. But all in service of an underwhelming product.


The Medium/Long of It
Spoiler Free! But that's all you get!

There is almost nothing to say about this one other than that it is more of the same. It’s effectively the same book: a string of semi-connected episodes interrupted by reminders that amnesia is still a thing. It’s just as frustrating to read as the previous entry in the trilogy for the same reasons – there are traces of a much better book here. These are just buried beneath the pile of other choices made. This is also a truly unneeded sequel; it does nothing to actually build upon the first book. Rather, it feels most of the time like cut material from the earlier volume.

How little there is to say here. The style choices made mean that this story cannot get anywhere. It must end with no real progress. Sure, we learn a bit more about his backstory, a bit more of his past. But to tell it all – or even significant amounts of it – would undermine the air of mystery surrounding the hero. Well, the mystery that would exist, if we actually cared a lick about him.

This is an exceptionally short review because it feels like the same book. Skip them both.

If you want to read it for some reason or another, consider using the link below! I'll get a few cents at no extra cost to you.

Forget-me-not, Stranger.
And don't forget to read a book!

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