Sword and Citadel (The Book of the New Sun, Vol. 2) (Vol 2) (Paperback)

by Gene Wolfe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Recently voted the greatest fantasy of all time, after The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun is an extraordinary epic, set a million years in the future, on an Earth transformed in mysterious and wondrous ways, in a time when our present culture is no longer even a memory. Severian, the central character, is a torturer, exiled from his guild after falling in love with one of his victims, and journeying to the distant city of Thrax, armed with his ancient executioner's sword, Terminus Est. This edition contains the second two volumes of this four volume novel, The Sword of the Lictor and The Citadel of the Autarch.

About the Author
Part of the Fantasy Masterworks series; ‘[Gene Wolfe’s] most intricate and personal work...it is central to any full attempt to understand his other novels, his sense of the great painfulness of any shaped life, or his methods in general’ The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction; ‘A tricky, evil, deep and remarkable novel’ Neil Gaiman; ‘Gene Wolfe is unique. If there were forty or fifty of this first-rate author - no, let’s be reasonable and ask Higher Authorities for only four or five - American Literature as a whole would be enormously enriched’ Chicago Sun-Times; ‘May be his finest. Intricately told.... [its] implications are complexly appalling’ The Encyclopedia of Fantasy; a spellbinding, brilliantly imaginative tour de force, it ranks alongside the finest literary works of our time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (December 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857987004
• ISBN-13: 978-1857987003
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #761,160 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books you're likely to read., March 31, 2006

By	Josh (Poughkeepsie, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book of the New Sun (Hardcover)

Have you ever read one of those books that you keep thinking about a year after first reading it, until you find yourself cracking it open to read it again? This is one of those books, and on a second read it is every bit as enjoyable as the first. Through the eyes of Severian the torturer, we see a far-future Earth under a dying sun, where we encounter a variety of interesting people and strange creatures. We witness Severian's rise from apprentice to journeyman in the guild of torturers, see him banished from his home, and follow him on his journey to a new life in a distant village. Wolfe's prose and diction are often archaic but always beautiful, and his characterization and story development are brilliant. Don't go into this expecting light reading. Severian is a liar. His world is unfamiliar to us, but familar to him. For this reason, he is not going to waste words telling us a great deal about ancient history, which for us has yet to happen. If we are careful readers, we will understand certain things about Severian's world better than he leads us to believe he understands them himself.

Beware of those reviewers who would have you believe that this book is anything less than great. I have seen some say that the writing is dull; they didn't read the same book that I read. Some say that it is full of events that don't advance the plot; Severian tells us nothing that is unimportant. Many people don't pay attention when they read, which I suspect is the reason that those people don't understand a book such as this one (remember that your narrator is a liar). Wolfe is going to make you work, but he rewards you for it. Wolfe has been called the best writer alive, and after reading this beautiful story, I find it hard to believe that anyone would disagree.

2.0 out of 5 stars Like Wading through Hip Deep Oatmeal, May 30, 2009

By	D. Morriss "Sarasota Pop" (Sarasota, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've also been reading Sci Fi and fantasy for a long time and have never run into such a long, tedious, plotless bag of nonsense in all that time... until I started reading, then skimming then ignoring this book.

I think this book is a product of the 'All form, no substance' school of writing. Dark moods, sullen characters, irrationally placed tech; be honest, did you learn anything useful about the world, yourself or others from reading the series? SOmetimes simple entertainment is good too. The world described in this series is not worth visiting.

Remember, you aren't immortal. Start with masters (real ones, not those dubbed by book marketers) Heinlein, Asimov, Orson Scott Card, Anne Cafferty, Herbert (father and son) are just a few; when you've run out of all of them, maybe read this series.

Sorry to be such a downer, I like a lot of different books and ideas. This one offended by wasting my time. I can get some of my money back but my time can never be replaced.

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite possibly the best fantasy book(s) ever written, October 16, 2008

By	Reed Moore (Hannibal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of the New Sun: Shadow and Claw v.1 (Fantasy Masterworks) (Vol 1) (Paperback)

Be careful. The first time I attempted reading this book, on the recommendation of a friend, I read a few chapters and finally stopped. I was expecting something else. A fellowship on a quest? Swords and sorcery in full technicolor? A straightforward, but dark, fantasy tale of the future? I'm not sure. It just didn't do it for me though. It seemed to meander without going anywhere!

MONTHS later, I still found this little snippet of book nagging at me. Something there...something deep, dark, and mysterious. Colors, sounds, tastes. Something beautiful, but overwhelmingly sad.

"The play's the thing"

It dawned on me that I had to drop whatever it was that I was reading at the time, and start again and read it without distractions, without assumptions, without trying to shoehorn it into my idea of what a fantasy novel should be. Just let it flow. I am so glad I did.

My advice is to just read it and open your mind [possible (small) spoilers below].

If you don't get chills when Severian dreams his dog is alive again and is sleeping next to him in the field, and he awakes, and finds that it really might have happened...

If you don't smile when you realize the ancient "painting" (perhaps millions of years old) that he sees of a knight in a desert with a visor of gold and a strange stiff banner is probably of Neil Armstrong...

If you aren't shocked at the real relationship between Dr. Talos and Baldanders...

If you find yourself wondering if Severian is actually telling the truth...or maybe he is completely insane?...

etc. etc. etc.

No, it's not for everyone. Try it though. If it is "for you", you'll be so relieved that you experienced it in your lifetime.