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Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun'
Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' | Gene Wolfe
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 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"
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review
khooliha
Pickpick

Whoops, finished this last week and forgot to review! A weird book, I grew to enjoy it more and more, even if I don't always get how this Urth connects to ours. But texts don't exist to be solved, so that's fine. (Also, I recommend the podcast Shelved By Genre, who put forth that thesis.)

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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Much like William Gibson‘s Neuromancer, I suspect a reread will be necessary to really “get” this intricately plotted, fascinating science fiction story which reads like high fantasy. The world is original, populated with interesting, compelling, & flawed characters (the main character, Severian, is fantastic as are the implications of his profession), & Wolfe‘s talents as a writer & storyteller are on full display. A SF classic for good reason.

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TracyReadsBooks
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Neil Gaiman seems to think this is a pretty good book. Time to find out if he‘s right.

JLaurenceCohen One of my absolute favs! 13mo
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AustinWilkins
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Pickpick

Severian, an apprentice of the Guild of Torturers, is exiled for showing mercy to a prisoner. He is gifted Terminus Est from Master Palaemon and embarks on a journey to Thrax. The theme revolves around betrayal and perfidious friendship. This is present when one of Severian's trusted friends betray him. If you enjoy books that twist your imagination, you will not want to put this one down.

MissYaremcio Awesome review Austin! It sounds like a book that I actually may enjoy as well! 6/6 3y
3 likes2 comments
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chapter_fifty2017

Reading this was like a dream journey , it was like being in a dream a magical.land wher bad things happened but you were detached .
Admitting I read it awhile ago but it stays with me and I intend to savour the whole series and think on its philosophy.

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Geeklet
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Science Fiction legendary author Gene Wolfe has passed away at the age of 87. Rest In Peace good sir.

https://www.tor.com/2019/04/15/gene-wolfe-in-memoriam-1931-2019/

TobeyTheScavengerMonk I used the same image in my Litsy memorium! Such an unassuming and pleasant master of genre fiction. 5y
28 likes1 comment
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shadowspeak17
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@Natasha.C.Barnes is hosting a #giveaway! Check her page for more info! #NCBGiveaway

There aren‘t many books on my shelves that I don‘t know much about, but this is one of them. My boyfriend bought it, but I don‘t remember when and I can‘t recall him telling me anything about it which is odd because he usually tells me about the books he buys or I look them up myself so I can see if I‘d like to read them too. ⬇️⬇️

shadowspeak17 I should really look into this one because the sword on the cover could fulfill a prompt for #Booked2018. 😃👍🏽

I‘m interested in reading The Nightingale and A Short History of Nearly Everything.

Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!

#catsoflitsy #Phoenix #gingerbrat
6y
Cinfhen Ha! Nice detective work 🕵🏻‍♂️⚔️🗡🛡 6y
Natasha.C.Barnes Hey hey! I forgot to ask whereabouts you live, I forgot to narrow the boundaries when I first posted the giveaway but I'm hoping to honor your entry anyway if you win, unless they want a super crazy amount to send it to you. 😂 6y
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shadowspeak17 @Natasha.C.Barnes Hahaha, no problem. 😂 I live in Texas. 😄 6y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk This is one of the best books I‘ve ever read ever. I just started the 6th book in the series. 6y
31 likes6 comments
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meggofrank
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Boba Fett presents some unique challenges for sitting in the good spot on the couch. It's all well and good until his tail starts wagging.

Anybody else having difficulty reading today?😂

#dogsofLitsy #petsofLitsy

Hooked_on_books I can so relate to this! 🐶🙄😂 7y
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meggofrank
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Finally getting back to my #LitsyAtoZ attempt. I keep reading authors whose last names start with the same letters! Looking through my TBR this morning, this was one of two books that would work. Guess I'll have to get some more books soon! 😁

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Moray_Reads
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And while I'm blaming Littens for my unstoppable TBR (by which I mean thanking them profusely, even if my bank balance isn't) thanks to @TobeyTheScavengerMonk for reminding to finally read these. I was too impatient to wait for the library and managed to snag these secondhand

TobeyTheScavengerMonk Awesome covers! Crazy synchronicity too. After posting about them the other day I decided I "needed" the individual books. Ordered Shadow of the Torturer in hardcover from Abebooks. Some of the best books I've ever read. 7y
Moray_Reads @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I have read the first volume but so, so long ago. My school library didn't have the second one and neither did the public library so I never got round to it 7y
Moray_Reads @TobeyTheScavengerMonk And I also understand the "need". Pretty sure the porters at work are getting tired of all my deliveries ? 7y
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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"Here I pause. If you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, I cannot blame you. It is no easy road."

"Here I pause. If you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, I do not blame you. It is no easy road."

"Here I pause. If you have no desire to plunge into the struggle beside me, reader, I do not condemn you. It is no easy one."

"My pen halts, though I do not. Reader, you will walk no more with me. It is time we both take up our lives."

TobeyTheScavengerMonk #bestlastsentences of Shadow of the Torturer, Claw of the Conciliator, Sword of the Lictor, and Citadel of the Autarch - The Books of the New Sun #marchintoreading 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Those are great last lines, makes me want to pick up that series! 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Jaberwocky Here‘s another one (I post on these books an awful lot apparently) of the last sentences of the first 4 books, collected in these 2 volumes. 6y
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review
AiBBot
Pickpick

Want to read a book where the plot follows a straight line? Do NOT read this book. If you want a mythological, pilgrim-like, picturesque, and complex tale, read this book. I suggest having a dictionary handy.

AiBBot I read these years ago. Something today made me remember them. These books stay with you. Thank you Gene Wolfe. 8y
3 likes1 comment