Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe has written at least 208 books. Their most popular book is The Shadow of the Torturer with 642 saves with an average rating of 3.68⭐.

Author Bio

Gene Wolfe was born in Texas. After dropping out from Texas A&M University, he served in the Korean War, and later graduated from the University of Houston. He worked first as an engineer, notably designing part of the machine that produces Pringles potatoe chips, and later as the editor of a professional engineering magazine, *Plant Engineering*.

Wolfe was a prolific writer, publishing over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories in his life. He was known for the complexity of his narratives and the depth of his characters, frequently using unreliable or fallible narrators to enhance his thematic focus on memory. His work explores topics of morality, often through the lens of his Catholic faith.

Primarily recognized for his science fiction and fantasy works, Wolfe received a litany of recognition in those genres including the British Science Fiction, World Fantasy, British Fantasy, Locus, Nebula, and Campbell Memorial Awards. In 2012 he was recognized as the 29th Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Information from [Tor Publishing][1] and [The New Yorker][2].


[1]: https://www.tor.com/2019/04/15/gene-wolfe-in-memoriam-1931-2019/
[2]: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/sci-fis-difficult-genius

The Shadow of the Torturer

#1 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1980 • 642 Readers • 276 pages 3.7

Shadow & Claw

Shadow & Claw
ByGene Wolfe

269 Readers 4.1

The Book of the New Sun

#1 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1980 • 209 Readers • 950 pages 4.4

The Claw of the Conciliator

#2 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1981 • 143 Readers • 303 pages 4

The Urth of the New Sun

#5 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1987 • 118 Readers • 310 pages 4

Sword & Citadel

#3 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

Sword & Citadel
ByGene Wolfe

1982 • 117 Readers • 411 pages 4.3

The Sword of the Lictor

#3 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1981 • 114 Readers • 301 pages 4.2

The Citadel of the Autarch

#4 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1982 • 106 Readers • 317 pages 4.2

The Fifth Head of Cerberus

1994 • 104 Readers • 256 pages 4

The Knight

#1 of 2 in The Wizard Knight

The Knight
ByGene Wolfe

2004 • 81 Readers • 430 pages 3.6

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse

#1 of 4 in Wastelands

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
ByJohn Joseph Adams(Editor),Cory Doctorow(Contributor)

2008 • 80 Readers • 348 pages 3.5

Peace

Peace
ByGene Wolfe

1975 • 73 Readers • 272 pages 4.5

Soldier of the Mist

#1 of 3 in Latro

1986 • 61 Readers • 390 pages 3.8

A Borrowed Man

#1 of 1 in Smithe

A Borrowed Man
ByGene Wolfe

2015 • 39 Readers • 300 pages 3.7

The Wizard

#2 of 2 in The Wizard Knight

The Wizard
ByGene Wolfe

2006 • 37 Readers • 608 pages 3.6

Stories

Stories
ByNeil Gaiman(Editor),Al Sarrantonio(Editor)

36 Readers 3.6

On Blue's Waters

#1 of 3 in The Book of the Short Sun

On Blue's Waters
ByGene Wolfe

1999 • 34 Readers • 384 pages 4.1

Lake of the Long Sun

#2 of 4 in The Book of the Long Sun

1994 • 31 Readers • 352 pages 4.4

The Book of Cthulhu

#1 of 2 in The Book of Cthulhu

The Book of Cthulhu
ByCaitlín R. Kiernan(Contributor),Ramsey Campbell(Contributor)

2011 • 28 Readers • 500 pages 4

Caldé of the Long Sun

#3 of 4 in The Book of the Long Sun

1995 • 28 Readers • 385 pages 4.1

The Sorcerer's House

2010 • 27 Readers • 304 pages 3.4

Return to the Whorl

#3 of 3 in The Book of the Short Sun

2001 • 26 Readers • 416 pages 4.1

In Green's Jungles

#2 of 3 in The Book of the Short Sun

In Green's Jungles
ByGene Wolfe

2000 • 26 Readers • 384 pages 4.5

Exodus From The Long Sun

#4 of 4 in The Book of the Long Sun

2013 • 24 Readers • 448 pages 3.9

The Dark descent

The Dark descent
ByDavid G. Hartwell,King, Stephen,+49 more

1987 • 23 Readers • 1,028 pages 4.5

The Dark descent

The Dark descent
ByDavid G. Hartwell,King, Stephen,+49 more

1987 • 23 Readers • 1,028 pages 4.5

Soldier of Sidon

#3 of 3 in Latro

Soldier of Sidon
ByGene Wolfe

2006 • 20 Readers • 320 pages 3.5

Latro in the Mist

#0 of 3 in Latro

Latro in the Mist
ByGene Wolfe

2003 • 18 Readers • 642 pages 3.3

Swords & Dark Magic

#1.2 of 9 in The Chronicles of the Black Company

Swords & Dark Magic
ByGarth Nix(Contributor),Tanith Lee(Contributor)

2010 • 17 Readers • 517 pages 3.8

999: Twenty-Nine Original Tales of Horror and Suspense

999: Twenty-Nine Original Tales of Horror and Suspense
ByStephen King,William Peter Blatty,+25 more

1999 • 17 Readers • 688 pages 3.3

Cover 8

Planned book #2 of 4 in Latro

Soldier of Arete
ByGene Wolfe

15 Readers 3.2

The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories

1980 • 15 Readers • 384 pages 4.7

There Are Doors

There Are Doors
ByGene Wolfe

1988 • 15 Readers • 313 pages 4

The Sword & Sorcery Anthology

The Sword & Sorcery Anthology
ByJeffrey Ford,Glen Cook,+17 more

2012 • 14 Readers • 480 pages 3.5

Pirate freedom

Pirate freedom
ByGene Wolfe

2007 • 13 Readers • 320 pages 3.4

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan
ByGene Wolfe

2020 • 13 Readers • 240 pages 3

The Best of Gene Wolfe: A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction

2009 • 12 Readers • 479 pages 4.1

The Return Of The Sorcerer: The Best Of Clark Ashton Smith

1931 • 11 Readers • 400 pages 3

Bone Swans: Stories

Bone Swans: Stories
ByC.S.E. Cooney

2015 • 11 Readers • 224 pages 5

An Evil Guest

An Evil Guest
ByGene Wolfe

2008 • 11 Readers • 304 pages 3

Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2012 edition

#2 of 10 in Some of the Best from Tor.com

Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2012 edition
ByPatrick Nielsen Hayden(Editor),Liz Gorinsky(Editor)

2013 • 11 Readers • 329 pages 4

The Complete Book of the New Sun

2017 • 11 Readers • 1,216 pages 4

La Garra del Conciliador

#2 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

1981 • 10 Readers • 337 pages 4

Home Fires

Home Fires
ByGene Wolfe

2011 • 10 Readers • 304 pages 2.3

The Claw Of The Conciliator

2011 • 10 Readers • 597 pages 3.9

Dark Forces: New Stories of Suspense and Supernatural Horror

Dark Forces: New Stories of Suspense and Supernatural Horror
ByKirby McCauley(Editor),Dennis Etchison(Contributor)

1980 • 10 Readers • 715 pages 3

The Land Across

The Land Across
ByGene Wolfe

2013 • 9 Readers • 288 pages 3

Nightside the Long Sun

#1 of 4 in The Book of the Long Sun

2022 • 9 Readers • 10h 42m 4

The Book of the New Sun: Volume 1

2017 • 9 Readers 3

Endangered Species

Endangered Species
ByGene Wolfe

2004 • 8 Readers • 516 pages 4

Free Live Free

Free Live Free
ByGene Wolfe

1984 • 8 Readers • 399 pages 3

The Secret History of Science Fiction

The Secret History of Science Fiction
ByJames Patrick Kelly,Lucius Shepard,+16 more

2009 • 7 Readers 4

The Book of the New Sun: Volume 2

2016 • 6 Readers 4.7

The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories

The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories
ByTom Shippey(Editor),H. G. Wells(Contributor)

1992 • 5 Readers • 586 pages 3

The Complete Hammer's Slammers Volume 1

#1 of 4 in Hammer's Slammers

2005 • 5 Readers • 500 pages 4.5

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection
ByGardner Dozois(Editor),Lucius Shepard(Contributor)

1985 • 5 Readers • 812 pages 4

The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume I: The Ultimate Egoist

#1 of 8 in The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon

1995 • 5 Readers • 420 pages

Sword and Citadel

Sword and Citadel
ByGene Wolfe

2000 • 5 Readers • 608 pages 4

Cover 0

1976 • 5 Readers 3.5

Shelf Life

Shelf Life
ByGreg Ketter(Editor),Charles de Lint(contributor)

2002 • 5 Readers • 304 pages

Castle of Days

Castle of Days
ByGene Wolfe

1992 • 5 Readers • 448 pages 2

Nightmares

Nightmares
ByMark Samuels,Gene Wolfe,+22 more

2016 • 5 Readers • 422 pages

Mermaids and Other Mysteries of the Deep

Mermaids and Other Mysteries of the Deep
ByPaula Guran(Editor),Delia Sherman(Contributor)

2015 • 4 Readers • 384 pages

The Wolfe at the Door

2023 • 4 Readers • 392 pages

Innocents Aboard

Innocents Aboard
ByGene Wolfe

2005 • 4 Readers • 308 pages 3

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2011 Edition

#2 of 7 in The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2011 Edition
ByM.L.N. Hanover,Caitlín R. Kiernan,+28 more

2011 • 4 Readers • 544 pages

The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Volume 2

The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Volume 2
ByRobert Sheckley(Contributor),R.A. Lafferty(Contributor)

2014 • 4 Readers 3

Starwater Strains

Starwater Strains
ByGene Wolfe

2000 • 4 Readers • 352 pages

Cover 2

Sailing to Byzantium/Seven American Nights
ByGene Wolfe,Robert Silverberg

1989 • 4 Readers • 183 pages 4

The Dragon Done It

The Dragon Done It
ByEric Flint(Editor),Mike Resnick(Editor)

2008 • 4 Readers • 416 pages 3

The Locus Awards

The Locus Awards
ByNeil Gaiman,John Varley,+16 more

2004 • 4 Readers • 528 pages 5

Salt of the Air

Salt of the Air
ByVera Nazarian

2006 • 3 Readers • 372 pages

Cover 3

Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2006 Edition
ByRich Horton(Editor),Theodora Goss(Contributor)

2006 • 3 Readers • 336 pages 3.5

Cover 6

The World Treasury of Science Fiction
ByRoger De Garis(Translator)

1989 • 3 Readers • 1,112 pages 4

The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2009

#1 of 2 in The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2009
ByJay Lake,Ian McDonald,+48 more

2009 • 3 Readers • 541 pages 3

The Sword of the Lictor

#3 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

3 Readers • 243 pages 4.8

The Book of the Short Sun

2001 • 3 Readers • 752 pages 4.5

Liavek (Liavek, #1)

#1 of 6 in Liavek

Liavek (Liavek, #1)
ByWill Shetterly(Editor),Emma Bull(Editor)

1985 • 3 Readers • 274 pages 4

The Wizard Knight: Comprising The Knight and The Wizard

#1 of 2 in The Wizard Knight

2005 • 3 Readers • 912 pages 4

The Horns of Elfland

The Horns of Elfland
ByDelia Sherman(Editor/Contributor),Donald G. Keller(Editor/Contributor)

1997 • 3 Readers • 352 pages 3

The Dead Man and Other Horror Stories

2023 • 3 Readers

Urth Nowego Słońca

#5 of 5 in The Book of the New Sun

Urth Nowego Słońca
ByGene Wolfe,Arkadiusz Nakoniecznik(Translator)

1987 • 3 Readers • 392 pages

Lightspeed Magazine, September 2013

Lightspeed Magazine, September 2013
ByLauren Beukes,Kim Stanley Robinson,+1 more

2013 • 2 Readers

Cover 2

New Terrors
ByTanith Lee(Contributor),Ramsey Campbell(Editor)

1980 • 2 Readers • 335 pages

Castleview

Castleview
ByGene Wolfe

1990 • 2 Readers • 278 pages

Modern Classic Short Novels of Science Fiction

Modern Classic Short Novels of Science Fiction
ByGardner Dozois(Editor),Jack Vance(Contributor)

1993 • 2 Readers • 657 pages 4

Graven Images

Graven Images
ByVarious

2000 • 2 Readers • 249 pages

Soldado de Areté

#2 of 3 in Latro

Soldado de Areté
ByGene Wolfe,Albert Solé(Translator)

1989 • 2 Readers • 342 pages 4

Gateways: Original New Stories Inspired by Frederik Pohl

Gateways: Original New Stories Inspired by Frederik Pohl
ByElizabeth Anne Hull(Editor),David Lunde(Contributor)

2010 • 2 Readers • 18 pages 3

Cover 6

1994 • 2 Readers

Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy

6 Lord Ermenwyr

Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy
ByJack Dann(Editor),Gardner Dozois(Editor)

2007 • 2 Readers • 428 pages 4.5

Cover 3

Pawn to Infinity
ByVictor Contoski,Daniel Gilbert,+10 more

1982 • 2 Readers • 258 pages

Alchemy and Academe : A Collection of Original Stories Concerning Themselves with Transmutations, Mental and Elemental, Alchemical and Academic

1970 • 2 Readers • 271 pages

The Island of Dr. Death and Other Stories and Other Stories

1997 • 2 Readers • 395 pages 5

The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction

The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction
ByGardner Dozois(Editor),William Gibson(Contributor)

2005 • 2 Readers • 1,304 pages 2

Shadow & claw

Shadow & claw
ByGene Wolfe

2 Readers

Cover 0

#1 of 3 in Latro

Żołnierz z mgły
ByGene Wolfe,Michał Michałowski(Translator)

1986 • 2 Readers • 336 pages

Mermaids!

Mermaids!
ByJack Dann(Editor),Gardner Dozois(Editor)

1986 • 2 Readers • 260 pages

Year's Best SF 9

3 Year's Best SF

Year's Best SF 9
ByGeoff Ryman(Contributor),Kathryn Cramer(Editor, Contributor)

2004 • 2 Readers • 516 pages 3