Soldier Of Sidon by Gene Wolfe
02/08/2008 . Source: Eamonn Murphy 
pub: TOR/Forge. 319 page hardback. Price: $24.95 (US), $33.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-31664-1319 page enlarged paperback. Price: $14.95 (US), $17.25 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-7653-1670-7. Buy Soldier Of Sidon in the USA - or Buy Soldier Of Sidon in the UK  check out website: www.tor-forge.com
This is the third in a series of novels featuring Latro or Lucius, a mercenary soldier in ancient times. The previous books were 'Soldier Of The Mist' and 'Soldier Of Arete' which I have not read.
Latro forgets everything when he sleeps so every night he writes down what has happened. His autobiographical scroll has been discovered in modern times by an Egyptologist and there is a preface to this book by his translator. This conceit of the found manuscript, used by Robert Graves for 'I, Claudius', allows us to 'believe' in the first person narrator. On this, more later.
I will not elaborate on the plot, which is so complicated that there's a glossary of characters at the back of the book. Basically, Latro is the muscle for a spying mission to the lands south of Egypt. Much of his time is spent on a boat with assorted other sailors, soldiers and lackeys of the Pharaoh before they encounter priests, kings and many gods.
Gene Wolfe is a well respected author in the fantasy genre and writes flawlessly. There are no jarring anachronisms in the dialogue and he obviously has extensive knowledge of old Egypt. The tone reminded me of 'Creation' and 'Julian', the ancient historical novels of Gore Vidal, but without that old gentleman's wit. Frankly, it was a bit dull. There were no errors in the prose but no zest and pleasure neither. The actual storytelling is so subtle that at times I wasn't entirely sure what was going on. Most of the time the narrator wasn't sure what was going on neither, which brings me to the major flaw in the book, the underlying conceit of the forgetting man having to write everything down.
I think readers can cope with first person narration without this desperate attempt at realism. A hero who forgets everything each night is very dependent on others. Every morning he wakes up and has to be re-introduced to all the other characters, who assure him that they are his best friend, his temporary wife and so on. Having no sense of continuity except when he re-reads his scroll (a tedious task I must say) he is not really in control of his destiny. This is not good in a hero. Latro is strong, brave and a decent sort of chap but neither he nor anyone else arouses much interest. The story drifts along, like the boat on which much of it takes place, and there is no real conclusive ending. It just stops.
As Gene Wolfe is such a well regarded writer I can only conclude there is a flaw in me. I am too used to simple yarns with simple characters and don't get subtlety. If, oh potential buyer, you like plain, clear storytelling with obvious highlights, suspense, drama, a solid plot and a gripping conclusion, then the book will bore you. If you are a cultured, sophisticated sort of reader then you might like it. A lot of people do, apparently.
Eamonn Murphy
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