From Publishers Weekly
Launching a three-book series, Wolfe's latest takes place several decades after the close of his acclaimed four-volume the Book of the Long Sun. There, it was revealed that the great artifact called the Whorl, unbeknownst to its millions of inhabitants, was in fact a failing spaceship and that the AI "Gods" that ruled the Whorl wanted its inhabitants to leave and colonize two nearby terrestrial planets, Blue and Green. Now, decades later, Blue has many human cities, but civilization is slowly decaying. Horn, who also narrated the earlier series, has been dispatched to find Patera Silk, the legendary leader responsible for the colonization of Blue. Wolfe's complex, two-part story line follows Horn's initial quest across Blue in search of a vehicle, or lander, capable of returning to the Whorl, while it simultaneously recounts the aging Horn's life as the involuntary ruler of a city far from his home and family. In his initial quest, Horn must battle vampiric shapeshifters and attempt to thwart their plot to divert the lander and its human cargo to Green, their home world, where the humans will be used as cattle. As always, Wolfe's prose is masterful and his main characters are well developed. The novel starts slowly, however, and moves in fits and starts. Horn, who narrated Patera Silk's story in such a self-effacing manner in the earlier series, can't seem to stick to his narrative for more than a page or two without dithering off into inconsequential meditations on his own shortcomings. But Wolfe does establish several tantalizing mysteries that hold readers' attention, and which, presumably, will be explored fully in later volumes. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Bound by an oath to find the legendary Patera Silk and bring him to the new world known as Blue, Horn leaves his job as a papermaker and embarks on a perilous sea voyage to the end of his world and beyond. Continuing the tale begun in his "Book of the Long Sun" series, Wolfe embellishes on the fortunes of many of the characters from his earlier works. The author's deceptively simple style conceals a dense weave of symbols and allegories suggested by his ingenuous protagonist's odyssey across the waters in search of a hero. Most libraries should consider adding this title to their sf collections. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
First of a new trilogy and sequel to Wolfe's heavyweight Book of the Long Sun tetralogy (culminating in Exodus from the Long Sun, 1996). Narrator Horn, who previously related the story of a multigeneration starship, the Whorl, and its eventual ruler, Patera Silk, has now settled with his family in the city of New Viron on the planet Blue beneath the Short Sun. But the settlers still need a dynamic, skilled leaderand who better than Silk? So Horn sets sail in a small boat, ready to cross all Blue's oceans to find him. Problem is, Silk was last seen 16 years ago, aboard the Whorl, and by now he might well be dead. You don't have to be acquainted with the Long Sun tetralogy, but it helps considerably, and though Wolfe's teasing list of ``Proper Names in the Text'' is of small benefit to newcomers, fans of the previous should not be disappointed. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
On Blue's Waters is the start of a major new work by Gene Wolfe, the first of three volumes that comprise The Book of the Short Sun, which takes place in the years after Wolfe's four-volume Book of the Long Sun. Horn, the narrator of the earlier work, now tells his own story. Though life is hard on the newly settled planet of Blue, Horn and his family have made a decent life for themselves. But Horn is the only one who can locate the great leader Silk, and convince him to return to Blue and lead them all to prosperity. So Horn sets sail in a small boat, on a long and difficult quest across the planet Blue in search of the now legendary Patera Silk. The story continues in In Green's Jungles and Return to the Whorl.



About the Author
Gene Wolfe has been called "the finest writer the science fiction world has yet produced" by The Washington Post. A former engineer, he has written numerous books and won a variety of awards for his SF writing.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first of three volumes that comprise "The Book of the Short Sun, On Blue's Waters" takes place on the planet of Blue, where Horn (narrator of a previous series by Wolfe) tells his own story.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Launching a three-book series, Wolfe's latest takes place several decades after the close of his acclaimed four-volume the Book of the Long Sun. There, it was revealed that the great artifact called the Whorl, unbeknownst to its millions of inhabitants, was in fact a failing spaceship and that the AI "Gods" that ruled the Whorl wanted its inhabitants to leave and colonize two nearby terrestrial planets, Blue and Green. Now, decades later, Blue has many human cities, but civilization is slowly decaying. Horn, who also narrated the earlier series, has been dispatched to find Patera Silk, the legendary leader responsible for the colonization of Blue. Wolfe's complex, two-part story line follows Horn's initial quest across Blue in search of a vehicle, or lander, capable of returning to the Whorl, while it simultaneously recounts the aging Horn's life as the involuntary ruler of a city far from his home and family. In his initial quest, Horn must battle vampiric shapeshifters and attempt to thwart their plot to divert the lander and its human cargo to Green, their home world, where the humans will be used as cattle. As always, Wolfe's prose is masterful and his main characters are well developed. The novel starts slowly, however, and moves in fits and starts. Horn, who narrated Patera Silk's story in such a self-effacing manner in the earlier series, can't seem to stick to his narrative for more than a page or two without dithering off into inconsequential meditations on his own shortcomings. But Wolfe does establish several tantalizing mysteries that hold readers' attention, and which, presumably, will be explored fully in later volumes. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

Considered by many to be foremost in the science fiction field, Wolfe authored the four modernday classics that make up The Book of the New Sun (Simon & Schuster, 19801983). He followed that impressive quartet with the four novels in the stellar series, The Book of the Long Sun (Tor, 19931996). Now the story continues in this first volume of the Book of the Short Sun. Horn, a papermaker who lives on Blue, narrates with his wife, Nettle, known to readers through the adventures of Patera Silk in The Book of the Long Sun. Horn describes his own escapades as he leaves his family to go on a quest, commissioned to return to the Whorl and bring back Patera Silk to serve as the Calde of New Viron, where his family lives. Horn travels Blue's waters, en route to the western continent to catch a lander and return to the Whorl. Along the way he meets a goddess of the sea, adopts a fierce creature, and takes on passengers, one the adopted daughter of the goddess and the other a vampiric shapeshifter. The author includes a list of proper names, helpful in keeping track of the numerous characters and the places Horn visits on his quest. The complex plot is accompanied by intriguing characterizations and philosophical musings on the nature of rulership and humankind. Again Wolfe displays his consummate craftsmanship in an exquisitely written work. For those who like to savor what they read, this treasure will provide food for thought long after the covers are closed. It is possible to begin your acquaintanceship with Wolfe here, but I recommend starting at the beginning or at least experiencing the adventures of Patera Silk before traveling Blue's oceans with Horn. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P S A/YA (Hardtoimagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 1999, Tor, Ages 16 to Adult, 384p, $24.95. Reviewer: Bonnie Kunzel

KLIATT

Horn is one of a group of colonists from another planet who is running a small paper mill in a simple village with his wife and grown children when he is asked to take up a legal position elsewhere. As he spends time in the boat they have made after some trial and error, he begins to think of ways to improve their medieval-type civilization. Although they are a space-faring race, Horn's people are already losing their technology one generation later. Horn feels that Silk, another founding colonist and something of a mythological figure, could help restore their crops and skills back to their original quality. He interacts with odd people and stranger creatures, including a mechanical prophetess, a siren, a semi-sentient pig and a winged vampire, one of the inhumani that slip in to prey upon the humans they impersonate. Recorded as in a diary, events are filtered through Horn's hopes and fears. The pace meanders as leisurely as the boat trip Horn takes to search for the elusive Silk. He muses about where his people came from, where they are going, and what is threatening them. Because the story is steeped in classical symbolism on various levels, it takes careful concentration to decipher what's happening. There is a cliffhanger ending to set up the rest of the series. Best recommended for the focused mind. (The Book of the Short Sun, Vol. 1). KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 1999, Tor, 381p, 21cm, 99-26659, $15.95. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Liz LaValley; Mattapoisett, MA January 2001 (Vol. 35 No. 1)

Library Journal

Bound by an oath to find the legendary Patera Silk and bring him to the new world known as Blue, Horn leaves his job as a papermaker and embarks on a perilous sea voyage to the end of his world and beyond. Continuing the tale begun in his "Book of the Long Sun" series, Wolfe embellishes on the fortunes of many of the characters from his earlier works. The author's deceptively simple style conceals a dense weave of symbols and allegories suggested by his ingenuous protagonist's odyssey across the waters in search of a hero. Most libraries should consider adding this title to their sf collections. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Don D'Ammassa - Science Fiction Chronicle