The Book of the New Sun – By Gene Wolfe
Actually, the title is something of a cheat: it only sounds like one book. Originally published as four books, this fantasy series has since been compiled in two omnibus volumes: the first volume is entitled Shadow and Claw
, the second Sword and Citadel.It is most decidedly not your typical riff on (or rip-off of) Tolkien. That’s a good thing. The books are rather dense. Author Gene Wolfe utilizes an often arcane vocabulary to describe his world, and he doesn’t bother to explain many of the customs he discusses. The novels include numerous oblique references and allusions – references and allusions that are easy to miss, and yet, if caught and deciphered, are an aid in understanding the world of the story. This is not, in other words, the kind of book that some people enjoy taking to the beach. It’s a slow read – but not necessarily in a bad way.
The plot centers on the character of Severian, an apprentice in the guild of torturers on the world of Urth. He makes the mistake of showing mercy to one victim, and is subsequently expelled from his guild and exiled from his home. The series follows him on his travels, charting his wanderings and his ultimate ascension to power within this odd world. Severian narrates the series, and though he claims to have a photographic memory, his narrative easily falls into the unreliable category. He claims to speak the truth, and yet he obscures, or omits, certain crucial details. This adds yet another layer of complexity to the story.
Wolfe has my respect for the ways in which he hasn’t pandered to the mass audience. Don’t get me wrong – I like an easy read, and honestly believe that a book need not be difficult to be great. Nonetheless, Wolfe is writing challenging stuff, and in a genre filled with work that too often apes Tolkien for the most monetary of reasons, it is a relief to have Wolfe.
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