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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I have read this twice and both times I have loved the language and gotten lost in the story (literally and figuratively). One definitely must pay attention, this is not a book of light reading. Beautifully written
Strange and troubling. The story of a young man who makes bad decisions, usually for understandable reasons, but occasionally not, leaving the reader unsure of how they are meant to feel about him. A lot of craft, providing very interesting words, but the reader often finds themself wondering if the words actually meant anything.
Was initially really excited about this because of how clearly Ada Palmer took inspiration from it for Terra Ignota. However, I’m not seeing much payoff to the deep future stuff yet. Good enough for me to plan to read the rest of The Book of the New Sun, not good enough for me to seek out immediately the next volumes. Disappointing, but it did take me 2-3 reads to get into Terra Ignota as hard as I did.
That we are capable of being only what we are remains our unforgivable sin.
Shadow and Claw, or the Book of the New Sun, contains two books in a four part story — Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator. Both follow the recollections of a young man named Severian who quickly into the story finds himself forced out of the torturers guild in a far future city somewhere on "Urth." The book is striking, dense and an incredible creative achievement. As a constant reader, and one who adores fantasy and science fiction, I found it challenging at times but richer for that experience. This book does not hold your hand and it's perfect for that reason.
There's little I can add to what has already been pointed out by far better read fans of Wolfe's work. A reflection by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] is what drew me to the book and I was surprised and delighted to see praise from none other than the late, beloved [a:Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg] on the cover.
5/5.
Shadow and Claw, or the Book of the New Sun, contains two books in a four part story — Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator. Both follow the recollections of a young man named Severian who quickly into the story finds himself forced out of the torturers guild in a far future city somewhere on "Urth." The book is striking, dense and an incredible creative achievement. As a constant reader, and one who adores fantasy and science fiction, I found it challenging at times but richer for that experience. This book does not hold your hand and it's perfect for that reason.
There's little I can add to what has already been pointed out by far better read fans of Wolfe's work. A reflection by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] is what drew me to the book and I was surprised and delighted to see praise from none other than the late, beloved [a:Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg] on the cover.
5/5.
This book (well, two-book volume) is a very dense read. If you like Chaucer, or Dante, or Umberto Ecco (but with less blowhard arrogance), you may like this book. If you like inverted plots, where you can see what is coming but not how, you might like this book. If you like digging for symbols and other nuggets within a forest of words, you might like this book. If you like machinations which subsume the seemingly free will of the characters, you might like this book. However, if you do not like stories that are too clever by half, then you might not like this book. In either case, it is not an easy journey, as the book itself clearly states at the conclusion of each part. I am halfway through the set of two two-book volumes, and I am undecided on the story as a whole, though I like how it has come together so far.
Set in the extremely distant future, Urth (Earth) has seen more than one technological age come and go. The world Severian walks is medieval in most ways, though built upon the detritus of previous ages and sprinkled with the occasional magic of technologies fantastic. At times, it reads like Mr. Wolfe followed the example of the poet Coleridge, writing down drug-induced dreams that were equally brilliant and nonsensical. At other times, Wolfe seems less brilliant and more inclined to fantastical jibberish. Then, right when I would wonder why I was slogging through the dense prose to follow the random wanderings of a flunky executioner, it all comes together. I have only read excerpts of Chaucer, but it feels similar, if less obvious in its execution. The characters are personifications more than people, however complex and misanthropic and flawed they are. The story at times feels preachy, at other times dream-like, but the plot is intricately worked. The story is one of cycles within cycles, each book within the volume ending in a place similar but different to where it began. It does not take long to learn that the end results are pre-ordained, and random events are found to be part of an elaborate scheme, regarding which our hero Severian is only dimly aware. Indeed, halfway through the set, the story almost seems too pat in spite of its seemingly random wanderings and unresolved threads.
And then there is Severian, the sole narrator of the tale. Seemingly autistic, unwittingly misanthropic, and keenly reliable in his unreliability, his journeys lead him like a puppet on strings to an unrelenting destiny. Vilified by society, he still attracts followers and companions like flies. He declares himself in love with women citing misplaced ideals, and then he misuses them for base and often unclear reasons. Some call this misogyny, but he treats men little better, finding the flaws in those aligned with him and subverting their purposes for little to no reason. He only mourns for the inhuman and for false ideals. He promises a great many things, some with no intention and the rest with no hope of fulfillment, and then he lets those oaths weigh on his honor and dictate his actions anyway. Yet, he persists, viewing himself--and convincing me, the reader--to be a hero with just causes, however flawed. He shows mercy when no mercy is justified, and he helps strangers when no help is requested. He cares for a dying world, and dying people, and dying honor, even when it dies of his own doing. Likable but despicable, Severian is Death with a sense of humanity, ascribing morals to mere whims and meanings to the random as he tries to find his way in a harsh world of wonders. He is our everyman, whether we want him to be or not.
Set in the extremely distant future, Urth (Earth) has seen more than one technological age come and go. The world Severian walks is medieval in most ways, though built upon the detritus of previous ages and sprinkled with the occasional magic of technologies fantastic. At times, it reads like Mr. Wolfe followed the example of the poet Coleridge, writing down drug-induced dreams that were equally brilliant and nonsensical. At other times, Wolfe seems less brilliant and more inclined to fantastical jibberish. Then, right when I would wonder why I was slogging through the dense prose to follow the random wanderings of a flunky executioner, it all comes together. I have only read excerpts of Chaucer, but it feels similar, if less obvious in its execution. The characters are personifications more than people, however complex and misanthropic and flawed they are. The story at times feels preachy, at other times dream-like, but the plot is intricately worked. The story is one of cycles within cycles, each book within the volume ending in a place similar but different to where it began. It does not take long to learn that the end results are pre-ordained, and random events are found to be part of an elaborate scheme, regarding which our hero Severian is only dimly aware. Indeed, halfway through the set, the story almost seems too pat in spite of its seemingly random wanderings and unresolved threads.
And then there is Severian, the sole narrator of the tale. Seemingly autistic, unwittingly misanthropic, and keenly reliable in his unreliability, his journeys lead him like a puppet on strings to an unrelenting destiny. Vilified by society, he still attracts followers and companions like flies. He declares himself in love with women citing misplaced ideals, and then he misuses them for base and often unclear reasons. Some call this misogyny, but he treats men little better, finding the flaws in those aligned with him and subverting their purposes for little to no reason. He only mourns for the inhuman and for false ideals. He promises a great many things, some with no intention and the rest with no hope of fulfillment, and then he lets those oaths weigh on his honor and dictate his actions anyway. Yet, he persists, viewing himself--and convincing me, the reader--to be a hero with just causes, however flawed. He shows mercy when no mercy is justified, and he helps strangers when no help is requested. He cares for a dying world, and dying people, and dying honor, even when it dies of his own doing. Likable but despicable, Severian is Death with a sense of humanity, ascribing morals to mere whims and meanings to the random as he tries to find his way in a harsh world of wonders. He is our everyman, whether we want him to be or not.
December 2024 review:
I still find myself thinking about the book, even positively at this point. I would rather have read another Dying Earth by Jack Vance than this, but this uniquely has kept some added mystery and appeal differently than Vance. The story has some sticking power in my mind. I'm starting the next 2 books now as well.
Aug 19th 2024 review:
I finished it all and I'd describe it like walking through a foggy valley up to a hill where you can see a better view of your path, but still not clear. Was it worth finishing to realize that? No, I wouldn't say it was. I may continue the series eventually but I doubt I'll ever care that much about it.
April 18th 2024 review:
DNF: page 153.
I don't find any pleasure in nothing happening, this is by far the worst example of this out of any book I've ever read.
Its like you are really far away from a concert all your friends told you was awesome and the guy in front of you is vaping directly into your eyes and has a speaker that's louder than the concert playing bad music.
Hell maybe the concert is okay but this guy fucking sucks so I'm leaving.
I really tried to stick it out but I can't do it. Terrible terrible terrible.
So utterly skippable and disgusting. Jack Vance is a 5/5, Gene Wolfe is a 0/5. I may never read another Gene Wolfe book again.
For almost 100 pages he doesn't even leave the guild, then he just fucks around town and who cares? Whooo cares what he does, it seems like he doesn't even care, it's like Gene doesn't even care.
I still find myself thinking about the book, even positively at this point. I would rather have read another Dying Earth by Jack Vance than this, but this uniquely has kept some added mystery and appeal differently than Vance. The story has some sticking power in my mind. I'm starting the next 2 books now as well.
Aug 19th 2024 review:
I finished it all and I'd describe it like walking through a foggy valley up to a hill where you can see a better view of your path, but still not clear. Was it worth finishing to realize that? No, I wouldn't say it was. I may continue the series eventually but I doubt I'll ever care that much about it.
April 18th 2024 review:
DNF: page 153.
I don't find any pleasure in nothing happening, this is by far the worst example of this out of any book I've ever read.
Its like you are really far away from a concert all your friends told you was awesome and the guy in front of you is vaping directly into your eyes and has a speaker that's louder than the concert playing bad music.
Hell maybe the concert is okay but this guy fucking sucks so I'm leaving.
I really tried to stick it out but I can't do it. Terrible terrible terrible.
So utterly skippable and disgusting. Jack Vance is a 5/5, Gene Wolfe is a 0/5. I may never read another Gene Wolfe book again.
For almost 100 pages he doesn't even leave the guild, then he just fucks around town and who cares? Whooo cares what he does, it seems like he doesn't even care, it's like Gene doesn't even care.
Hands down one of the best fiction books I have read. An extraordinary "Dying Earth" speculation that bridges a gap between elements of fantasy and science fiction.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really don't know how to review this or what my thoughts are yet. I need to read to the end of the series and then do a re-read before I think I'll be ready to commit anything intelligent or meaningful to words. I've never been more confused or enthralled at the potential of a book before.