Just read Captain Randy's latest post, "How to Overload a Bookshelf," posted 11/4/2003, about the writer Gene Wolfe and his new book. I too admire Gene Wolfe's writing, especially the 'slow-reveal' technique he handles so well that keeps you hooked, astounded, and reading on, as well as wanting more, more, more of that deep, rich, varied, and brilliantly accomplished prose.
I've just been rereading Wolfe, but in my case it's Nero Wolfe, the detective featured in the stories and novels of Rex Stout. (A search on www.alibris.com for books by author Rex Stout will bring up a surprisingly long list of titles. Pick any one involving Wolfe -- almost all of them do. And all of the Wolfe novels and stories are superb.) I've got Seven Complete Nero Wolfe Novels published in a single cover, an omnibus hardcover volume from Avenel published in 1990, compiled in 1983, which makes an excellent starter for those who might like to try. It's available as a used book; try here.
Nero Wolfe novels have a lot to offer. To my mother, who read them as they came out, in the 30's through the 70s, Archie Goodwin, a detective himself and a fine one, and, from the detective side of things, Wolfe's self-described man Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, was her favorite character, enough of a wise-ass to keep the sacred cows well-milked and well in hand. I liked Archie a lot, and never more than when I got to see him with his friend Lily Rowan, and I liked Saul Panzer, and Fritz Brenner his cook and man-about-the-house, but I really liked Wolfe best, and wanted to be him. Wolfe was brilliant, articulate, acerbic, sometimes even downright rude, superb at what he did, and lived in his wonderful NYC townhouse on W. 35th street, which featured not only his office and his living quarters, with meals cooked and served by Fritz, but the orchid rooms on the top floor. What's not to like? Except for Wolfe's detective brilliance, and his orchid-growing pastime, that could describe me... or someone I'd like to be.
The most important thing about Wolfe, which made me like him right away, was that he never left his house. He never left his house at all -- and why would he with his life arranged so that he never had to? He used his detective business to support himself and his establishment, which included the house in all its parts and the men who worked for him (Archie and Fritz each had a room in the house and lived there full time). I read about this arrangement when I started reading the novels at a relatively early age, and I vowed that if it was ever possible, I would try to arrange my life like Wolfe's, in that I would have a home I loved -- not flashy or luxurious but one which fit me comfortably -- and which I had arranged to accommodate all my interests, money-earning and not.
It was only as I got older that I understood that Wolfe had arranged his life that way so that he could maintain his own schedule and would never have to leave the house. He was (as many others before me have noted) an agoraphobic. But of course, it was only as I got older that I understood that I was one too -- there's a reason this blog has the title it has -- although to a less marked degree than Wolfe. I at least learned how to drive (better late than never) but to this day I limit my driving to a few known local destinations like the grocery store or to a restaurant to lunch with a friend. I also became a telecommuter as soon as that option became available. Once that happened, I never had to leave my house, either.
Success at last.
11:40:36 AM 
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