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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
After seeing The Book of the New Sun on many "best of..." lists I finally decided to jump in and give it a try. I don't know exactly what I expected but I got something that really surprised me. Wolfe's Urth is a place far removed from our own reality but there is just enough there to make the reader know from whence it came. As I read, I found I really had to pay attention and read between the lines to really come to an understanding of what was going on and even now I am pretty sure I missed quite a bit. Like Dune this book will only reveal its true genius after several readings.
I haven't read much "future Earth" fiction but I loved that this takes place so far in the future as to almost be a completely different planet. Maybe it is. I still have Volume 2 to go plus the sequel, The Urth of the New Sun. I don't feel like I should do a review yet as I haven't really finished the story. I assume my full review will come in time but if you are looking for something that will challenge your reading and discovery skills I would certainly recommend the series. It keeps you on your toes. One note though, it is not exactly easy reading but if you pay attention you might notice a few things that will make you smile.
I haven't read much "future Earth" fiction but I loved that this takes place so far in the future as to almost be a completely different planet. Maybe it is. I still have Volume 2 to go plus the sequel, The Urth of the New Sun. I don't feel like I should do a review yet as I haven't really finished the story. I assume my full review will come in time but if you are looking for something that will challenge your reading and discovery skills I would certainly recommend the series. It keeps you on your toes. One note though, it is not exactly easy reading but if you pay attention you might notice a few things that will make you smile.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has some capital-P Problems with women. At the same time it's told in a way that absolutely compelled me and I recognized its influence on some of my other favorites immediately. Severian is a weird little creep.
a far-future odyssey
3.5 stars, rounding up. It was an interesting read because fantastical things kept happening the the main character which slowly filled in small glimmers of detail about the world.
However, the main character, a young man, falls in love with every woman he meets - which does not a story make.
I am truly unsure if the character, Severian, was gross about the simultaneous objectification and idolization of woman or if it was the authors lens. Weird.
3.5 stars, rounding up. It was an interesting read because fantastical things kept happening the the main character which slowly filled in small glimmers of detail about the world.
However, the main character, a young man, falls in love with every woman he meets - which does not a story make.
I am truly unsure if the character, Severian, was gross about the simultaneous objectification and idolization of woman or if it was the authors lens. Weird.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A dying sun and a society that has much regressed both socially and technologically, though some remnants remain to shape the story and the world of Urth, once maybe known as Earth, set a million or so years in the future.
It's strange, beautifully written and at times extremely confusing, but also very intriguing. Dark and twisted and sad and far from hopeful. Nevertheless, I find myself very interested in seeing where the story and the characters end up at.
The main character of Severian shines as a character, though the same definitely can't be said about him as a person. He is not without some serious issues (though he is mostly kind of sympathetic) and the same can be said about pretty much any character here. There are no heroes and barely anyone is truly innocent.
Actually, Severian's thoughts at the end of both volumes sum it all up quite well:
It's strange, beautifully written and at times extremely confusing, but also very intriguing. Dark and twisted and sad and far from hopeful. Nevertheless, I find myself very interested in seeing where the story and the characters end up at.
The main character of Severian shines as a character, though the same definitely can't be said about him as a person. He is not without some serious issues (though he is mostly kind of sympathetic) and the same can be said about pretty much any character here. There are no heroes and barely anyone is truly innocent.
Actually, Severian's thoughts at the end of both volumes sum it all up quite well:
"Here I pause. If you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, I cannot blame you. It is no easy road."
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced