Anyone familiar with a Gene Wolfe novel knows his stories are filled with puzzles leading to at least two different stories being told in the midst of his text. The first is the primary one which is usually written in first person, written from the perspective of one of the main characters of the novel. The second is the story of what is left out from the first, the real sequence of events, which has gotten distorted or misunderstood by the narrator. To get to the second, you have to figure out all the clues and learn to read between the lines. Some of Wolfe’s works are much more difficult to figure out than others — indeed, some have been written to be open-ended so that many possible interpretations are possible. His greatest works (such as his Solar Cycle) are some of his most difficult to read, not only because of this, but also because they tend to be filled with peculiar vocabulary and thinking processes which easily manipulate the reader and leads them astray unless they are conscious of what is going on and work against it. His newest novel, The Sorcerer’s House is still filled with puzzles, and indeed, ends in such a way as to lead one to debate what exactly happened at the end[1] — nonetheless, it is one of his easier novels to read, and the clues seem to be more obvious (and actually repeat themselves contrary to his norm which might itself be a different kind of clue).
It is filled with characters which one expects from Gene Wolfe: they are not morally pure. The main character, Bax, clearly has a few problems. He seems to be down on himself, but one must wonder if that is false humility, trying to lead the audience (his brother, George, his brother’s wife, Millie, and of course, the reader of the novel) astray. He is not a saint — he has many of the typical foibles of society. But he is also a scholar. He has two PhDs. On the other hand, we must remember throughout that he is a felon, and what he was put into prison for should also tell us something about the nature of what he writes. Are the letters really written for the people addressed, or are they being written for some other purpose?
We start the novel when he is paroled. He looks for a new way of life, and thinks living in a small community might be his best bet. It is not easy — he starts off living in a hotel room with little money, and no job. But then he finds out that he has inherited a famous haunted house, the Black House, from an unknown benefactor. Once this happens, nothing remains the same. As he explores the house, he keeps finding new rooms, hidden passageways, and new people who are connected to it– from a set of twin boys to a butler — he finds himself in the middle of a rather chaotic interpersonal relationship with people he did not know and yet who find themselves strongly attracted to him and vice verse. But things are not all so well — as he is exploring his house, and meeting the people in town, forming relationships with them, grizzly murders are also taking place– ones which indicate a werewolf is involved (yes, that is a bit of a spoiler, but such a minor one that it barely counts). Who exactly is Mr Black, and why has he given Bax the house? How exactly are people able to get into his house? What exactly is the power behind the windows? What exactly is special about Bax? What does his brother want of him, now that he is out of prison? Who is to become the love (or loves) of his life? And what exactly is to come of Bax and George at the end? These are among the questions which are pertinent to this story.
As a novel, this is a rather enjoyable, and even, easy read. It is written as a series of letters, mostly by Bax, but sometimes by a few other characters (including his ex cell mate from prison). As literature, it does not make as one of Wolfe’s best — but his best is so above any other, that this should not be read as to indicate this is a bad novel. It isn’t. I came in with expectations that were complete opposite of what I got with the novel — with the title, and some indication that this would be a Haunted House story, I expected it would be Lovecraftian and follow after Charles Dexter Ward. There is, to be sure, a small element of it — but in reality, it is more Dunsany than Lovecraft, with a little Machen thrown in. As with all Gene Wolfe novels, there is certainly all kinds of textual play going on, and the narration is not to be trusted — we have another untrustworthy narrator. At the end, we are reminded that he lies. We also have someone who is involved in a series of events which, at least apparently, he does not totally understand until the very end — and when that happens, he does not reveal all of what he found out because the people he is writing letters to know it or else, he doesn’t want them to know it (we have to put it all together ourselves). Indeed, there is more revelation which goes on in this book near its end than is normal for Wolfe novel, so much so, that it is meant to make one off their guard at the end, to see who falls for it. But the clues as to what really happened are there, and there are a few things which turn aspects of what is in the letters upside down if you look for them. It is a Gene Wolfe novel and he won’t let you off that easy. I myself am still trying to figure it all out. If you have any ideas, please, feel free to comment and let me know.
4 out of 5 stars.
[1] Which of the brothers actually remains and which goes to the world of the faerie? And how does he remain there? My own reading is that the last letter gives a hint of what really happened, and you must remember who it is that is the owner of the Fox Sword. And we must also remember, the narrator is a liar.
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