“Suns New, Long, and Short: An Interview With Gene”, 2007-08 (; backlinks):
Reprinted from Nova Express, Fall/Winter 1988, Person’s interview focuses on The Book of the Long Sun, its clergyman hero [Patera Silk], its religious dimension, and the contrast in narrative styles between this later work and The Fifth Head of Cerberus. Wolfe discusses Severian’s status as a Christian figure [Book of the New Sun], his past and current influences, and clarifies his involvement in the development of the Pringles potato chip manufacturing machine.
…Lawrence Person: Let’s jump back a bit. Who were some of the writers who influenced you in your youth?
Gene Wolfe: Vance was certainly one. G. K. Chesterton. Much earlier than either of those, L. Frank Baum and Ruth Plumly Thompson, who continued the Oz books, they certainly influenced me. The first science fiction story I ever read was by Theodore Sturgeon, and that I think has been a major influence. I read Alice in Wonderland, and at least tried to be influenced by it. Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker. I remember reading all those guys.