Operation Ares
Encyclopedia
Operation Ares is Gene Wolfe
's first novel, published as a paperback
original by Berkley Books
in 1970. While no later editions were issued in the United States, a hardcover edition was released in the UK market by Dobson Books in 1977, followed by a Fontana paperback in 1978. The title is sometimes rendered Operation ARES.
The novel began as a short story written by Wolfe in 1965. He submitted the story to Damon Knight
, who suggested that Wolfe expand it into a novel. Wolfe completed the novel, then titled The Laughter at Night in 1967, and sold it to Berkley Books. Wolfe and his editor, Donald R. Bensen
, cut about 20% of the manuscript's 100,000-word length for publication.
Operation Ares depicts a dystopian future, with the United States controlled by an anti-technological leftist regime. The story traces protagonist John Castle's conflict with the government and his increasing involvement with a rebellion backed by a Martian colony which has severed its ties to the U.S. government. While occasionally cited as a libertarian
text, Wolfe himself attributes its politics to his being "much more a doctrinaire conservative when I was a good deal younger.
found the novel unsatisfying, saying "I know what Mr. Wolfe can do when he sets his mind to it; Ares is far below his best. She described it as "a convincing, quiet, low-keyed, intelligent book which somehow fades out into nothing" and, despite praising Wolfe's technique, concluded it was "a failure, shadowy and inconclusive."
Larry McCaffery
characterized Ares as "a generally undistinguished first novel."
Wolfe himself says "I wasn't really skilful enough to write a good novel at that time. I don't think Operation Ares is a very good novel."
Gene Wolfe
Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the...
's first novel, published as a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
original by Berkley Books
Berkley Books
Berkley Books is an imprint of Penguin Group that began as an independent company in 1955. It was established by Charles Byrne and Frederic Klein, who were working for Avon and formed "Chic News Company". They renamed it Berkley Publishing Co. in 1955. They soon found a niche in science fiction...
in 1970. While no later editions were issued in the United States, a hardcover edition was released in the UK market by Dobson Books in 1977, followed by a Fontana paperback in 1978. The title is sometimes rendered Operation ARES.
The novel began as a short story written by Wolfe in 1965. He submitted the story to Damon Knight
Damon Knight
Damon Francis Knight was an American science fiction author, editor, critic and fan. His forte was short stories and he is widely acknowledged as having been a master of the genre.-Biography:...
, who suggested that Wolfe expand it into a novel. Wolfe completed the novel, then titled The Laughter at Night in 1967, and sold it to Berkley Books. Wolfe and his editor, Donald R. Bensen
Donald R. Bensen
Donald Roynald Bensen , also known as Don Bensen and sometimes listed as D.R. Bensen, was an American editor and science fiction writer. Editorally he is best known for editing works of P. G. Wodehouse and his involvement in their re-issue in paperback in the United States...
, cut about 20% of the manuscript's 100,000-word length for publication.
Operation Ares depicts a dystopian future, with the United States controlled by an anti-technological leftist regime. The story traces protagonist John Castle's conflict with the government and his increasing involvement with a rebellion backed by a Martian colony which has severed its ties to the U.S. government. While occasionally cited as a libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
text, Wolfe himself attributes its politics to his being "much more a doctrinaire conservative when I was a good deal younger.
Reception
Joanna RussJoanna Russ
Joanna Russ was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as How to Suppress Women's Writing, as well as a contemporary novel, On Strike Against God, and one children's book, Kittatinny...
found the novel unsatisfying, saying "I know what Mr. Wolfe can do when he sets his mind to it; Ares is far below his best. She described it as "a convincing, quiet, low-keyed, intelligent book which somehow fades out into nothing" and, despite praising Wolfe's technique, concluded it was "a failure, shadowy and inconclusive."
Larry McCaffery
Larry McCaffery
Lawrence F. "Larry" McCaffery Jr. is a literary critic, editor, and retired professor of English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University...
characterized Ares as "a generally undistinguished first novel."
Wolfe himself says "I wasn't really skilful enough to write a good novel at that time. I don't think Operation Ares is a very good novel."