A response to the Shadow of the Torturer review by Liminal Spaces

[@Brett5ive]

I've read the series over and over. They are just THE BEST

[@literallybooks]

You are in good company. Finishing up a reread of Shadow and had make myself stop so I could sleep.😆

[@nidevermv2624]

Purchased Shadow because of this video, can't wait to read it and watch your breakdown video after. btw your channel is CRIMINALLY underrated, really love your stuff after i found your vermis video. Best of luck!

[@literallybooks]

That’s awesome. Its been really great revising the series. That Vermis video sure does a lot of heavy lifting for me. 😆. Thanks for the kind words!

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Love the shirt and I love the video! My copy is a first BCE, which I can't believe I actually got. When I decided to read it I went looking for it on ebay. All the timescape paperbacks were around 35 dollars and then this incredible looking BCE was only 40 dollars. I don't know if the seller knew what he had. Anyway, I just checked and it does indeed include the appendix and I did read it the first time through, but I think your adding that appendix to the key of interpretation is brilliant. All I remember thinking while reading the appendix is that it reminded me of the first gothic novel (and one you've talked about) The Castle of Otranto, which the author originally claimed was a medieval manuscript that he found and translated. He did this because people of the time would not easily accept modern fiction that included the supernatural. I'm obsessed with the story of space travel using mirrors and the light disappearing into other dimensions so it can go faster than the speed of light, but something must exist to have a reflection so new things are created. I still think about this crazy concept and I plan to keep it seriously in my mind while I read the Claw. We absolutely need to plan a time to make a video chat! Thanks for your wisdom on these books. I'm really looking forward to reading more. I love your Folio edition, it's beautiful! Incredible video as always!

[@literallybooks]

Thank you! First, while reading your comment out loud to myself I said BCE and my youngest said “Dang, before Jesus”. 😆😆😂 That’s an incredibly good find. I guess my folio society isn’t too crazy considering its $50 a book (that’s the math I used to trick myself). I did the audio for Otranto and I don’t think that was included (dang). I’ll know I’ll get a physical copy once I encounter one in the wild. I knew the found trope (that’s what I’ll call it) from the Scarlet Letter, at least I thought so. Yeah, the last paragraph where Wolfe thanks “those collectors too numerous to name here” is a trip. The mirror scene is just so unnerving and heady. I’m taking notes and keep wondering how the idea of the mirrors might be interacting with this or that scene or other idea. So great. It was really helpful to hear you talk about it. Yes, a chat would be cool and fun!

[@pattheplanter]

So much good stuff in that book, conceptually and plot-wise. I so wanted a mercury-enhanced sword. Decorated or illuminated initial were the phrases you were trying to remember, I think. Historiated or inhabited initials have people or things depicted in them. Those in your Folio copy are also rubricated, they are rubrics, Red Letters.

[@literallybooks]

“Illuminated” and “Rubricatred”, yes. Thank you!🙏🏻 I would have spent too long trying to chase those down.

[@GrahamMatthewsReviews]

Those books are BEAUTIFUL! 😍 But I also understand the coolness of the weird paperbacks! I haven't read this series but as always you crushed the video! 😊

[@literallybooks]

Thanks! Folio Society does some great work and the pricing is fair considering the quality and that this is 4 books in two volumes. Got the Mrs. Alice in wonderland at the same time and she seemed pretty happy with it 😁

[@Crabby303]

It would be great if you guys did a joint review of the series - I finished them recently and didn't grasp a lot of the subtext tbh!

[@literallybooks]

Chris mentioned it and I think it would be great fun. Being confused or feeling like something is missing is good. I’m finishing up my 4th or 5th read of Shadow and I realizing I forgot more than I remembered. So many call backs and forwards and details added to a scene from a few chapters ago. Its so good.

[@UndeadVikingVideos]

Great video as always - keep it up! As a complete aside, are those Billy bookcases behind you (from IKEA) or something else?

[@literallybooks]

Thanks!! Yep. I debated on making something myself but these turned out nice. For pressed wood I think the quality is great. We got 6 of the 30” wide and 7 of the 15” wide and never had a problem. I feel like they would hold up to a move (like to another house) which is the real test for pressed wood. 😆

[@danielgarlock2074]

"Appendix A Note on the Translation In rendering this book--originally composed in a tongue that has not yet achieved existence--into English, I might easily have saved myself a great deal of labor by having recourse to invented terms; in no case have I done so." # epic

[@literallybooks]

These were the very first words I read by Wolfe. I thought, “I think I’m going to like this book.”

[@Badficwriter]

J.R.R. Tolkien: "And I took that personally."

[@danielgarlock2074]

LOL

[@literallybooks]

😆

[@vilstef6988]

If there had been no Dying Earth, there would be no Book of the New Sun!

[@literallybooks]

Yes! Gene Wolfe is how I found Vance. Dying Earth, Planet of Adventure (I thought I read somewhere that it was also an influence on New Sun but I don’t remember where I read that), and Vance’s short stories are all time favorites of mine. I definitely want to cover Vance this year. Probably Dying Earth but I’m eager to dive into his less talked about books. Thanks for stopping in!

[@BrentDavis75]

I dig the t-shirt. Great video.

[@literallybooks]

Thanks!

[@Runesocesius]

Why do you sound like neil degrausse tyson

[@literallybooks]

I do? Well I guess its true whether I believe it or not. 😆

[@Runesocesius]

@@literallybooks not hating bro, great review

[@literallybooks]

@@Runesocesius Oh, no problem, I didn’t take it that way. Just a play on something Tyson said, “The good thing about science is its true whether you believe it or not.”.

[@Runesocesius]

@@literallybooks brilliant! Didn't catch that originally