I spoil the Shadow so you can read the Claw. "Claw of the Conciliator". SF Fantasy Classic Review.

[@kenward1310]

Enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@thesci-fished]

You're welcome Ken, nice to meet you.

[@christinaerasmo6204]

Love your reviews 😊

[@thesci-fished]

I hope you're enjoying them as much as I enjoy reading these great books and sharing them with you.

[@mathewguglielmi8451]

It would be interesting to compare it with Jack Vance's The Chronicles of the Dying Earth.

[@thesci-fished]

Thank you Mathew, that's a great idea, I'll add it to the ever growing TBR list and video ideas. Cheers.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Sounds a dark novel.

[@thesci-fished]

I found it dark in places, but there's the promise of the new sun throughout that gives the novel a feeling of hope as well.

[@stephenmorton8017]

I got a hoot out of you mentioning how severian falls in love with all the women. You have to remember that he was taken from his mother and raised in that cloister of torturers and then thrown out among the world so he may have some time to make up in that regard. I noticed that too but it didn't bother me. I think you're being a bit premature ranking it because the four books were split up ill advisedly by the publisher. You really should read all four of the books and then the Urth of the new Sun and then call it one book when you're done. There are many revelations to come and timelike loops closed. It sure isn't a fast read but I found myself savoring it. It did take quite a while to finish but it was a enjoyable read throughout. It's good to have a basic familiarity with science fiction so that you can spot the relics and things brought back from the stars that affect the story. If you like the book of the new Sun you will probably like Anathem by Neil Stephenson. As far as Severian being an unreliable narrator, I excuse him of it knowing that he has been thrown out into the world not understanding much of it at all. Severian himself instructs the reader to read the manuscript at least twice for full understanding. It's all in the first person because it's basically a diary, an account of an Ascension through the ranks of an autocracy.

[@thesci-fished]

Nice to meet you Stephen, and thank you for the comment. True re: Severian's upbringing, I guess we can forgive him for falling in love with every woman he meets :-) Good point regarding the 4 books being read as single novel, and that is indeed the best way to read this classic. What I'm trying to do with the ladder is rank all the Hugo and/or Nebula award winning books on their own merit, sometimes, it works a little against the book. I have seen that a few times now, but I'm trying to keep true to the principles I laid out at the beginning, but yes, very valid point. I've read a few Stephenson novels but I have yet to read Anathem, I just looked at a book synopsis and it does sound very interesting. I think we agree on the unreliable narrator, I think it definitely adds to the charm of this wonderful novel. One thing that Severian says that I 100% agree with is that the manuscript does need to be read twice/thrice and it is definitely worth it. Thank you again for the great comment and I hope you can join me on the next one.

[@stephenmorton8017]

@@thesci-fished oh, i agree on all your excellent points and exposition. i read the BoNS after i saw a recommendation by Alastair Reynolds. it's so dense, it deserves some discussion. for instance, later we learn the horrific reason Vodalus was in the graveyard and tossed Severian a coin for saving him by pure chance. so many puzzles!

[@thesci-fished]

@@stephenmorton8017 it is definitely worth multiple reads 👍 I'm sure I'll get to volume two one of these days, I have read it but well before I started these reviews.