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Cover of Soldier of the Mist by Gene WolfeSoldier of the Mist
Classic · Fiction, Fantasy, Classics

Soldier of the Mist

by Gene Wolfe
1986 · 335 pages · Fiction
59.5Must-Read
Score Classic
Critics' pick
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

In ancient Greece in 479 BC, Latro, a Roman mercenary, suffers a head wound in battle and can no longer remember anything for more than a day. He keeps a scroll to remember what happens to him, and because of his wound, he can now see the gods, ghosts and monsters that others can't.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Nebula finalist and won the Locus Award. It's a brilliant, puzzling fantasy.

You'll love it if you liked

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The Ides of MarchThornton Wilder
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The IliadHomer

Good to know

It's demanding and assumes some knowledge of Greek history.

By the numbers

59.5Must-Read Score
  • Readers35 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Nebula Award finalist (1987)

Reads as

Adventurous, Thought-provoking

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedClassic booksTop 25 · 762 rankedBooks of the 1980sTop 25 · 202 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is Soldier of the Mist worth reading?

Yes. It was a Nebula finalist and won the Locus Award. It ranks #2,421 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.5 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Soldier of the Mist about?

In ancient Greece in 479 BC, Latro, a Roman mercenary, suffers a head wound in battle and can no longer remember anything for more than a day. He keeps a scroll to remember what happens to him, and because of his wound, he can now see the gods, ghosts and monsters that others can't.

How long does it take to read Soldier of the Mist?

About 8 hours (335 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Soldier of the Mist?

If you liked it, try The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder or The Iliad by Homer.