The Book of the New Sun is unanimously acclaimed as Gene Wolfe’s most remarkable work, hailed as “a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis” by Publishers Weekly, and “one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century” by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Shadow & Claw brings together the first … brings together the first two books of the tetralogy in one volume:
The Shadow of the Torturer is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession — showing mercy toward his victim.
Ursula K. Le Guin said, “Magic stuff . . . a masterpiece . . . the best science fiction I’ve read in years ”
The Claw of the Conciliator continues the saga of Severian, banished from his home, as he undertakes a mythic quest to discover the awesome power of an ancient relic, and learn the truth about his hidden destiny.
“Arguably the finest piece of literature American science fiction has yet produced is] the four-volume Book of the New Sun.”–Chicago Sun-Times
“The Book of the New Sun establishes his preeminence, pure and simple. . . . The Book of the New Sun contains elements of Spenserian allegory, Swiftian satire, Dickensian social consciousness and Wagnerian mythology. Wolfe creates a truly alien social order that the reader comes to experience from within . . . once into it, there is no stopping.”–The New York Times Book Review
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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I just finished reading Shadow & Claw, the first half of The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. It is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive sci-fi/fantasy books I’ve ever read. The prose is gorgeous: a unique and wonderful mixture of language that employs all sorts of ancient and otherwise unused words to evoke a far different time and …
Shadow & Claw is good enough that I don’t know how to recommend it without just sounding hyperbolic. It’s super rich, vivid sci-fi/fantasy with some casual horror folded in, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever read.
It can be deliberately bewildering, in a good way: It gets a ton of mileage out of its first-person perspective, and the …
I am of 2 minds after reading this book by Gene Wolfe. Without any doubt I was transported to another fantastic world where every thing from money to religion, politics and class system is foreign to the reader. On one level this is fascinating, but on another, annoying. I stumbled along pronouncing strange words and digesting odd …
Dense prose. An unreliable narrator. A world with millions of years of depth. Not an easy read, but worth it.
Beginning with The Claw of the Conciliator…this is just fantastic stuff! It’s also the best place to get started with Gene Wolfe!
This was written by one of the most talented writers in any genre of fiction. The first of a series, be prepared to spend time with this book to absorb the action and atmosphere of the work.
I think this won is hit or miss. It landed with me. But, I would completely understand somebody hating it or setting it down after 100 pages. It can be a bit hard to follow. But, i stayed interested.
Gene Wolfe is one of the greatest writers ever. I have copies on my book shelf and on my iPad. Gene Wolfe takes you on a journey with Severian the Torturer as he backs step by step into the throne of the Autarch, to ultimately rule the Commonwealth. The setting is an ancient Earth under a guttering and decrepit Sun where mountain ranges consist of …
If you like learning old or rarely used word meanings, you’ll enjoy this! Not for everyone, this book feels like weird dreams; or nightmares. The narrator, leads you through unlikely stories taking place in the unknown world of Urth ( Earth in the FAR future). It kept me interested until the end, and so happy there are more books in this series! …
A true classic of fantasy/sci-fi, this epic tetralogy is right up there with Frank Herbert’s original Dune in how its concepts transcend the actual storytelling. Gaimon, Rothfuss, Abercrombie… All influenced heavily by Wolfe.