Shadow of the Torturer Book Review | Book of the New Sun

[@brianholly3555]

Excellent! This is the first video review that actually talks about some of the stuff that makes this book just so much fun. The sheer constant inventiveness of it keeps it constantly entertaining.

[@jscottphillips503]

I've been reading SF for over 50 years, but never read any Gene Wolfe until just a week ago: the novella "The Fifth Head of Cerberus." Man... I didn't get it at all at first. But I heard it's best to read Wolfe a second time or more, and indulge in looking deeper. And wow! On second read, it started to click, I found whole layers of stories below the surface. A week later, bits are still coming back to me, and make me wonder if he meant this or that... lots of ways to interpret things. Your video confirms for me that Wolfe really needs the reader to be present, and ready to dig deep. The reader, if prepared for something more than just a light read, will be rewarded on many levels. Thanks for the commentary!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks J. Scott. I love scifi, and it can be a challenge for me at times because my brain gest so easily distracted. My first read of Shadow was difficult for me because I did miss a lot. The reread really brought it to life and I couldn't agree with your comment more.

[@Johanna_reads]

I love the way Earth has a new spelling so many years in the future! Attention to language can bee such a cool world-building aspect, and it sounds like there is no shortage of that in this series. I loved your Gene Wolfe impression. 😄 Book of the New Sun is definitely a series I want to get to someday!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha thanks. I did two takes for the Wolfe voice....the other version was way too over the top I thought.

[@ethanfuture]

Oh wow. You are killing me with these lyrics and music. I love that song and your lyrics fit perfect for this book. This book was so hard for me but also so good.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks ethan. This was a book I definitely enjoyed more on re read

[@WordsinTime]

Amazing review Michael! I have this on my schedule for next month. Can't wait to start!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Awesome. I hope you like it. Thanks

[@EnPassantChess]

Simply an awesome review of the unique reading experience. You addressed all the points I was wandering about or struggled with. Just a flawless analysis! So glad it brought me to your channel for the first time 😀👍

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Over the next few weeks, I have coming up: Snow Crash, Enders Game, Stranger in a Strange Land, and Who Fears Death

[@DaisyXMachina]

Great review! Love the intro!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks. One of my favorite covers :)

[@BookBuds]

Bruno Mars yes yes yes !! These intros are so fun ! I can’t wait to see what you do next.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks...I feel like I'm always responding to your comments weeks late and that KZbin is showing them late...what is their agenda!! haha. I love this Mars song...

[@jeremyfee]

High praise once again for the quality of the music, the lyrics, the art, and the discussion. I haven't read this one, but as usual, you're making me wish I had infinite reading time to get to it.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Jeremy. This is another one I think you could put in the slam dunk category of your TBR. I think you'd very much like this one.

[@ingerasulffs]

When I was reading Shadow of the Torturer the second time, or I think passed beyond it, I thought "This is Deus EX Machina" the book. But it really is an engrossing world. I still have trouble envisioning the lighting of the world - you know with a dimmer Sun and the Moon the way it is.

[@gon8go]

love the original music! I'm about to start book four and I'm still working it out.

[@FIT2BREAD]

It took re a re read to really complete a full experience. Theres also some original music for my recent reviews of Children of Time and Cliffors Simaks City...and upcoming reviews for Enders Game, Snow Crash, and Stranger in a Strange Land

[@bloozism]

I've finished Book of the New Sun. I want to read the WizardKnight next, I'm reading some Asimov's Galactic Empire trilogy for a "break" between Wolf novels. Some light reading before another dense novel where I"m looking up words every other paragraph.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha great. I'm very much looking forward to a reread of Foundation Trilogy this year

[@MrBendybruce]

I've only recently read this book, and my head is still reeling. From a first read, what stood out most for me was the originality and beauty of his metaphors. He almost seemed like a writer touched by divine inspiration, and as an aspiring writer myself, I am in equal parts awe and envy of his next level penmanship. In summary, it is a very special book, but I still don't quite know what I read, or if it is really for me.

[@FIT2BREAD]

That's how I felt the first time I read it. I stand by what I said about it not intentionally trying to be inaccessible, but its clear Wolfe was targeting folks to go back for a re read

[@bloozism]

@@FIT2BREAD I had to google one of his words that he used, referring to a beast of burden. It was defined as “an extinct proto-horse”. I had a laugh at that. You’d need to know extinct precursor species to current day animals to understand all of his language.

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@bloozism yeah I think 1st rwad I just let anything I didn't know just pass over me...much of it was workable because of context. 2nd time around, I was doing more dictionary dives.

[@willforlife_]

Amazing story read the first four over two years and i still ponder them, he's clearly a goat would like to read the rest of his stuff someday

[@FIT2BREAD]

William, there's so much more I want to investigate around the Book of the New Sun. It's a great read, and I love how it inspires me to get others opinions and evaluations of the work. thanks for watching.

[@willforlife_]

I'm curious to read the other series he wrote afterwords in the same world to see where the story goes cuse it's clearly his magnum opus

[@bloozism]

I just finished shadow of the torturer today, will start claw of the conciliator tomorrow. I feel like the author often “interrupts” his own story with asides too often. I was very interested in the duel involving the living flowers, and her instead he spent an entire chapter on the meal he ate, and then like 2 paragraphs on the actual fight.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yeah I have a clear view in my head of the fight with the flowers and what they look like, I love the imagery, but it also looks ridiculous (in my head)

[@joshsalwen]

Did you finish BotNS? If so, did you end up liking it?

[@bloozism]

@@joshsalwen not sure who you're asking, but I liked it immensely. I finished it. I'm on the last book of the Book of the Long Sun series now.

[@joshsalwen]

@@bloozism yup, was asking you, since you seemed on the fence. I finished Urth of the New Sun. Loved the series, but taking a break from Wolfe for a bit. Going for some easier reads 😁 I guess you liked them enough to continue on. All the best

[@bloozism]

@@joshsalwen nearly any author is an easy read after Wolfe 😂

[@TheMcMonster]

That was the best pun I've heard in a while.

[@FIT2BREAD]

oh now you have to remind me the pun...I dont have my book tube brain turned on at the moment :)

[@TheMcMonster]

@@FIT2BREAD About Severian being consumed with Thecla at 7:55 ;)

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@TheMcMonster ha yes. I love that I can laugh at my own thing. Thanks for reminding me...but hey come on..what about those intro song lyrics:)

[@TheMcMonster]

@@FIT2BREAD Still to many videos left to decide, which one is the best. But yes, this one is good.

[@LiamsLyceum]

This is a great review for a great book

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Liam

[@lifesabeach2597]

One of my favorites, I have read it 3 times so far

[@FIT2BREAD]

Have you read the Full Book of the New Sun 3x? Or just shadow?

[@lifesabeach2597]

@@FIT2BREAD I have read the full series

[@CrystalDawnMcknight]

This is fantastic

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks Juan. Have you read the book?

[@CrystalDawnMcknight]

@@FIT2BREAD No, I haven't, but watching you talk about it - wants to make me read it.

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

Oh hells yeah... I have to read this so cannot watch this 🙄🙄

[@FIT2BREAD]

I'm surprised you haven't read Book of the New Sun. This one is definitely up your alley. I think you will get a lot out of it Noah

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

@@FIT2BREAD I have heard great things and have a copy of the complete BotNS ☀️☀️

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse oh maybe that's why I thought you had read it. I'm sure I'd seen you showing it