Reviews

The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe

robotcommander's review against another edition

2.0

Such a dreadful experience.

My favourite chapter was the appendix.

saitu282's review against another edition

5.0

Riveting, dream-like and surreal. As with the first book, an unreliable, morally ambiguous narrator regales us with the continuing story of his exploits.

I recommend, but some parts are too fucked up even for me.

montescrito's review against another edition

mysterious medium-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

2.0

enjoyable speculative format with an avid prose, yet the plot is even weaker than the first book's. there was a little ray of sun for me (jordan), but the rest was pretty much forgettable. now, what i am really going to try to forget are a few very disturbing scenes including female characters (can they be considered characters?) that did not add any power or richness to... anything. 

i've been promised 3rd and 4th books pick up, so i will continue the series (i laughed when author writes, <i>if you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, i do not blame you. it is no easy road</i>. awareness is the first step to greatness!), but my expectations are extremely low. 

ransomtime's review against another edition

Wild

fxp's review against another edition

2.0

After the first book, I was excited what comes next and a continuation of the story, and more revelations about the past. Urth is being hinted to be the future of our Earth, and there are mentions of space travel. Alas, not much really happens in this book, it's mostly a chain of stretched out uneventful episodes, intermingled with the odd relationships of the protagonist with women. Dorcas, the one he really loves, while he likes to have sex with Jolena with the "breasts like melon" and Thecla his first swarm, whom he helped to suicide and still misses. I don't understand why Neil Gaiman endorsed this book.

aamasten's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sci_fi_si's review against another edition

3.0

Still as cryptic as the first book, but a little less eventful. Hard to see where this is going.
The protagonist falls in love with every girl he sees. It’s starting to get annoying.
I enjoyed the first book more, but will continue to book three.

merijndirks's review against another edition

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

john_raine's review against another edition

2.0

I was ambivalent about the first book in the series, but this one I really could barely get through. I know it is highly rated and considered a classic, but it wasn't a fun read and wasn't that interesting

thenewsun's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like I liked this book a lot more than Shadow, it was a bit easier to follow (although the story got a lot weirder the further you go into this book) so it was a lot easier to enjoy!

Every character in this feels like a total mystery and never what they *really* seem to be and off that alone it has me itching for more!


This is the first book I’ve ever annotated and it feels super rewarding now having forced myself to take notes and remember all the insanely high concept stuff going on here.

“That we are capable only of being what we are remains our unforgivable sin. ”