Last week I finished reading Gene Wolfe's science fiction masterpiece The Book of the New Sun. This is a novel which easily stands up to all its critical acclaim and is, in my opinion, one of the best examples of world literature across any genre. In fact, this book is now on my short list of favorite late 20th century American novels, alongside Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx.

I have ordered the coda to the novel, titled The Urth of the New Sun, and once I finish that I'll no doubt have more to say about this masterpiece. Until then, I strongly urge people to hunt down this four-part novel. Yes, it's a dense read. But if you give this novel them time it needs to reach into your consciousness, you'll come away amazed at what great literature can accomplish.