Soldier of the Mist (1986) Signed First Edition Reference

Soldier of the Mist introduces Latro, a Roman mercenary who suffered a head wound at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC, leaving him unable to form new memories. Each morning he must read his own scroll to learn who he is — a conceit that gives Wolfe an even more extreme version of the unreliable narrator. Published in 1986, the novel is set in ancient Greece (with names transliterated from Latin), and Latro’s condition allows him to see the gods that others cannot perceive.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: Tor Books, New York Publication date: 1986 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first edition, fine/fine: $150–$400
• Unsigned first edition: $25–$60

The Soldier series is one of Wolfe’s most admired achievements. Soldier of the Mist is the series’ starting point, and its innovative use of amnesia as a narrative device has earned it a devoted following among Wolfe readers.