Shadow and Claw: The First Half of the Book of the New Sun

Now that I've read "The Book of the New Sun", which actually precedes "The Book of the Long Sun" as far as the story-line history goes, I know that Gene Wolfe is one of our greatest writers of fantasy, science fiction, or speculative fiction. "The Book of the New Sun" reaches so far into our future that the sun is going red and dying. Humanity has forgotten much of its ancient past (us), although glimmers of it poke through here and there. The main character and the story's narrator, Severian, guides us through his life, starting as a young, apprentice torturer (an honorable but unrespected profession) and moving toward his unpredictable fate as ruler of the world (or Autarch). This book covers his early years.

The writing and the story are so complex and rich and deep that I know I am giving a totally inadequate description of the story, but a comprehensive description would take pages (and pages). This is a somewhat melancholy but wonderfully rich and well-told tale, and is (very, extremely) highly recommended for all readers who enjoy speculative fiction in any of its forms, from Arthur C. Clarke's hard science fiction to J. R. R. Tolkien whimsical epic fantasies to Charles de Lint's semi-Gothic urban legends. The only readers who won't like this book are impatient ones; the story is so involved that it cannot possibly start fast. It is, however, worth the patience required.


disgusting   March 17, 2004
5 out of 45 found this review helpful

When you read the reviews you might think this is a poetic masterpiece. Somehow no one mentions the disgusting violence and detailed descriptions of horrifying torture. How can we identify with a hero who grew up torturing and killing people?

Yes the writing is good, even if it's unnecessarily cramped with obsolete greek and latin vocabulary. But why has it to be the typical recipe? Violence and Sex?


Amazing story that keeps you coming back for more.   January 10, 2002
John Davies (Chorleywood, Hertfordshire United Kingdom)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful

I had recently finished reading Memory Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams and was on the prowl for another series of books to read. I had not heard fo Gene Wolfe, nor any of his books. It was Amazon.com and people who have placed lists of their favourite books, that informed me of Shadow and Claw. I read through the reviews and then placed an order for both halves of the book of the new sun.

I must confess that I was very confused when I started reading Shadow of the Torturer, since Severian was talking about people, places and events which had not been introduced. For exampe, when Severian talks about still being wet from the Gynoll. Being a bloke, I wanted everything to be nice and linear, which the chapters are but not the content of these chapters. You are often told about something at the beginning of a chapter and only actually told what this "thing" is at the end of the chapter. We are told later in the chapter or a subsequent chapter what the Gynoll actually is, and it is most innocent.
Furthering this point, as in mentioned in someone elses review, either on the UK or US Amazon site; Severian nearly drowns at the beginning of Shadow of the Torturer, and we are only told what actually happened near the end of the second book, The Claw of the Concilitator.

Due to this, and the fact that, as with most fantasy/Sci-fi novels, new terms are used/invented for normal day things; the first book is hard going. But stick with it, since it is one of the most captivating series I have read. I am currently half way through the City of the Autarch, the 4th and final volume in the book of the new sun, so unless it all goes horribly wrong, I will stand by my comment :o)

At times I have screamed at Severian, since he seems to not care about the women he travels with, yet at other times he does. But this just goes to show how todays morals and decent behavour, coupled with Severians upbringing, is different to what todays society deems acceptable...




Beautiful and Stunning   June 11, 2000
Jamie Harrison
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

One of the best written books I have ever read a joy from start to finish the writing style is odd but incredibly effective and is totally absorbing a must buy for all SF and fantasy fans . Cant wait to read the next half


The best "dying earth" sci-fantasy epic, bar none   October 22, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Ah, "The Book of the New Sun". A classic which I've found myself compelled to read at least once every year since a friend introduced me to it in the late 80s. Where to begin? Well, my favourite aspect of the series is the fact that Wolfe has created a protagonist who is a TORTURER by trade and upbringing and nevertheless manages to make Severian incredibly sympathetic. Indeed, he is the most likeable character in all of the books.

In creating this work, Gene Wolfe has taken the basic concept of Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" books and produced his own spin which, once read, is never forgotten. Another highly enjoyable component of the series (in my opinion) is the nomenclature. There are a lot of peculiar terms - "autarch", "carnifex", "cacogens", etc. The difference between Wolfe's use of these expressions and the typical garbage employed to describe the worlds of other sci-fi/fantasy authors is that, to the best of my knowledge, not one of these words is made up. Instead they are derived from a plethora of sources - old English, French, Latin, and so on. This level of research only adds to the believability of the author's conception of an ancient and decaying Terran empire.

There is furthermore the mythical/philosophical/religious story arc, the multitudonous subplots (many of which mesh together as the story progresses), the wonderful characterisation (even the most minor characters are beautifully fleshed out - I can't think of anyone who appears as merely a cipher) and the many little fables from the itinerant Severian's "Book of the Wonders of Urth and Sky" (I hope I got the title right). This is also a series which rewards re-reading - so much is prefigured that you will notice something new every time you revisit it.

In summation, you owe it to yourself to beg, borrow, steal or even buy these books. I guarantee that you will not regret it. In writing them, to my mind, Gene Wolfe has earned himself a place in Heaven.