The Book of the New Sun - The Ultimate Guide

[@disconnected22]

I was worried about spoilers, but I’m NEVER gonna remember this plot

[@AS-gz8oe]

😂

[@mystikmusings5451]

No matter how much you say about BOTNS, it’ll never be a spoiler. Whenever I try to explain it I just sound unhinged. 😂

[@davidiscool26]

I tried listening to this, stopped because I decided to start the series first then watch this video. I’m back after trying to listen to some chapters of the audiobook, hoping this video will help me understand this book.

[@spacecowboy5486]

There are not enough videos about The Book of the New Sun, love to see more

[@ahaeron]

We need to start sharing Moid’s work in various Sci-fi subreddits. This channel is a true gem.

[@randbrannigan2590]

Please don't invite redditors here

[@DamianSzajnowski]

​@@randbrannigan2590Alas, we hath arrived in numbers with all the associated lack of glamour you would expect

[@ryan.1990]

Get posting in those hecking subreddits folx! 😂😂😂

[@lou-isnt-here]

​@@DamianSzajnowski cringe

[@DamianSzajnowski]

@@lou-isnt-here As it should be

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

Moid, please don't ever delete this. I will eventually get around to reading BotNS and I want to watch this right after

[@MediaDeathCult]

It's not going anywhere

[@MediaDeathCult]

I may have poured everything i have into this video but that doesn't mean i know what i'm talking about. Any feedback, disagreements and theories are very welcome, this is just the start. Either comment on here where I'll try my best to respond to any non-wankers, or better still, join the conversation over on discord.

[@jramoo]

Heck ya, been waiting for a new video from you!

[@ilselauwers6009]

Some little reactions to this eccentric, extraordinary deep dive …. There is no way to know if the Severian whose story we read is the first one or the second or maybe Severian the 550 …. Because it is about a reset , go back to start situation … How many times has the whole thing been playing out before ? And does it follows the same narrative every time like a never ending loop or is every cycle different ? The ape Men dream scene is , starting from the viewpoint of never ending cycles actually a very disturbing, disappointing scene . We readers existing in an other cycle ( or is it the same cycle ) recognize these ape men . They are a familiar part of our collective memory of humanity… So, let’s hope that the translated books come from the future of our cycle … Because if they are from a different cycle and they contain such familiar scenes than then indicates that nothing is ever learned, nothing ever gained and everything becomes meaningless… I found that a very bleak rabbit hole to fall into. I would like to add Michael Moorcock’s ‘Dancers at the end of Time’ to the list of recommended book you mentioned.

[@moonkeele]

It never occurred to to me that Nessus was on the west coast. I always assumed the city was Buenos Aires and the river was the Amazon on the east coast. Also, Typhon making offers to Severian mirrors Satan tempting Jesus in the bible

[@djfoskey1]

Thank you for posting this. Can’t wait to watch it. I read BotNS for the first time this year and really enjoyed it but can’t wait to read all four books again. I listened to hours and hours of Alzabo Soup podcast as I was reading but still…this shit is mad confusing but also brilliant. Thanks again Moid

[@MediaDeathCult]

@@djfoskey1My pleasure, don’t forget the fifth book

[@9to5Drone]

Him giving a serious warning about the mindbending road to follow while that little chicken guy is bobbling off to the side got me 😂

[@luna123neo]

Best synopsis I've seen. Already shared the link with friends and had my wife watch it because she doesn't get why I love it.

[@floydhopkins7901]

Been trying to get my partner to read these for years. My absolute favorite series ever.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You

[@harrison_williams]

My wife just finished *On Blue’s Waters.*🥂11 down, 2 to go.

[@matt984]

I had to stop the video at 26 minutes because I haven’t finished the last 2 books but WOW. This truly is a love letter. I’m definitely going to be finishing this series asap and watching this video in its entirety. A+ stuff

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you, see you soon

[@CasperHulshof]

You will like them!

[@ilselauwers6009]

Thank you for this Moid. I can not imagine how many hours , blood , sweat and tears have gone into this .

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure, it took about a month, on and off

[@Charlie_Lap]

Certainly Blood... Certainly Sweat... Not sure if there were any Tears though. Those edit session sessions must have been pretty grueling

[@slavicgarou6414]

I absolutely love The Book of The New Sun. Must read it again, and again and ...

[@jbBehemoth]

This came up in my recommendations. I'm so glad someone covers this series. I don't know anyone else who has read these.

[@DelioPera]

No one has. They just talk about them, and share stories and lore, adding to the mystery of the book.

[@Runningwritingreading]

Severian is such a gift of a character

[@sturgeonslawyer]

As someone who was there at the time -- I don't mean "in the offices of Tor Books," I mean "alive, reading, and involved in the science fiction community" -- Urth of the New Sun happened thus: Dave Hartwell, one of the finest book editors SF has ever had, had published the first volume of tBotNS at Timescape Books. When he moved to Tor, he was permitted to take Wolfe's contract with him. (No, I don't know why, though Timescape books was quickly headed for collapse.) He edited and published the remaining volumes. In the meanwhile -- between the publication of "Sword" and that of "Citadel" -- Wolfe bowed to public demand and published "The Castle of the Otter," a collection of essays about tBotNS, with a small publisher. (Eventually this was included in one of Wolfe's larger collections, "Gene Wolfe's Castle of Days," which also contained an out of print collection of stories ["Gene Wolfe's Book of Days"] and some other stories. Anyway.) As you said, tBotNS was quite successful. Tor was happy to publish Wolfe's next book ("Free Live Free") which, while nearly as strange as tBotNS, was more "fun," something of a jeu d'esprit. Then Wolfe came up with _Soldier of the Mist_, the first of the "Latro" books. Latro is a kind of anti-Severian, a man whose memory, including the ability to retain new information for more than a few hours, has been lost, due either to a head wound or to a curse from a wronged goddess. It was quite as difficult as tBotNS, and less immediately attractive. Hartwell, who had published tBotNS on faith and without understanding some of it, made Wolfe a deal: if he would write a fifth book in _that_ series, to explain some of what had happened in tBotNS, Tor would take a chance on Latro. Wolfe took the deal, and wrote a book that explained some of the mysteries of the original tetralogy, often in oblique ways, while introducing new ones. And that was the end of Severian's tale -- at least until his brief appearance in the Book of the Short Sun, but that's another story...

[@MediaDeathCult]

Great stuff, thank you so much

[@MrXHCx]

@@sturgeonslawyer that's LITERALLY another story!

[@colbyboucher6391]

Yeah... I've *attempted* to read Latro but it's oddly dry

[@Severian1]

Bless the Cult Leader, whose sweat is the nourishment of his flock! Thank you Moid.

[@MediaDeathCult]

You're very welcome

[@imacg5]

(Cartman-style face-licking

[@iSamwise]

This is probably the best video I’ve seen on Book of the New Sun, yet somehow the best moment from it is at 1:57:35!!!!

[@MediaDeathCult]

I had to check that, and i agree

[@ilselauwers6009]

1:57:45 to be exact 🤗

[@_jared]

This is art. Bravo!

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You Jared

[@TorqueBow]

Very cool to see you here, Jared!

[@jevinday]

Your passion and authenticity is appreciated, you've turned me on to this series, I read Shadow and started Claw. I can tell I'll be studying this series for years! One of the nice things about this series is I can watch this whole video and I'll still be lost when I go back to read the book 😂 but thank you Moid, you make literature that much more enjoyable

[@MediaDeathCult]

Lovely comment, thank you

[@robbmnr8221]

I second this post.

[@Mentat1231]

1:42:25 Was so nostalgic for me. I've always loved Moid's old-school book reviews. He even did the "start saying the name, then realize I don't have the books, get them all, then start again" trope. Bless you, Moid.

[@MediaDeathCult]

This guy gets it

[@kufujitsu]

MediaDeathCult mentioned Mervyn Peake's evocative Gormenghast trilogy. Great prose - weird characters, & it pulls off the seemingly impossible -: making the crumbling castle the star of the show.

[@alanpennie8013]

He's something of a writer's writer, like Wolfe. Brian Aldiss' remarked that Peake's prose is so *dense* you wouldn't want to read much of it at a sitting.

[@kufujitsu]

@alanpennie8013 It's dense at times, but the story of Gormenghast was still enjoyable. The second volume was my favourite, with that long scene underneath the castle. It felt as if I was there.

[@hardtailgang]

Nobody paints a picture with their words like Peake. I tried starting the Wheel of Time and as a result, thought I hated anything but the briefest of "straightforward exposition" for worldbuilding. But then I read Gormenghast and found myself glued to multi-page descriptions of a rotting old sideroom in a castle, smiling, chuckling, and wanting it to keep going.

[@kufujitsu]

@@hardtailgang Yeah. From the first page, I knew that the Gormenghast trilogy was going to be something special.

[@DamienWalter]

Superb storytelling Moid. People will be watching this for years or decades to come.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thanks mate

[@purpleporygon]

I love the pringles can just subtly chilling next to you. Gene Wolfe is THE master of Fantasy and Sci-fi.

[@itaivoller]

I'm half way through the video but had to stop and say that your delivery is absolutely brilliant.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@nathancroft]

Absolutely essential listening and thoughts on Wolfe's masterpiece. I only recently finished my first read-through and this is just a fantastic resource to have. Thank you. I'm sure it was a monumental effort to put together.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@plekazunga]

Omg yessss. Just finished another reread of Botns and Urth. Stoked for a deep dive 🌞

[@Mako2401]

This is a masterpiece just like the book. Well done mate.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you so much

[@turnstilesai]

In addition to the excellent deep dive on this tangled timeline of sci-fantasy, the filming of this was also excellent! I really enjoyed being taken on holiday while you broke this story down. Very nice visual touch.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@michaellacy8510]

I love all of Gene Wolfes’ work. But, The New Sun is my very favorite SF series. I got turned on to it by a woman I knew in the late ‘70s. Never was able to thank her properly. This is the best description and discussion of these challenging books I’ve ever seen. Bravo and many thanks!

[@MediaDeathCult]

You're welcome, thank you

[@pistos777]

My goodness I can't take anymore. I have got to read these book!

[@MediaDeathCult]

Indeed you do, all five of them

[@Kim_Miller]

OK, you got me to click and I stayed for the whole thing. What a marathon. I predict that in two years we'll see The Ultimate Guide Revisited. 😀 I read the five books in a row with nothing in between and loved them. Soon after that I read The Fifth Head of Cerberus, another top experience that got very trippy towards the end when I realised what Wolfe was doing to my head as the story started to double back on itself. When I'm talking about Wolfe's work I usually suggest that they start with Fifth Head as it will prepare them for the New Sun books. Early this year I read the Sun Eater series so far, which many people say references Dune (which I've not read) but seems to me to mirror New Sun. That was highlighted here a little when you quoted Severian's words, ' Here I pause. If you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, I do not blame you. It is no easy road.' Hadrian has a similar ending for each book in Sun Eater. 'If you would read no further, I understand. You have the luxury of foresight. You know where this ends. I shall go on alone.'

[@MediaDeathCult]

I have talked to Ruocchio, he is a huge BOTNS fanboy.

[@Ntwolf1220]

Sun Eater’s author has done a few interviews on KZbin talking about BotNS a lot

[@Atop77]

HOLY SHIT MOID AND CHARLIE! This could be the best MDC video yet. I know y'all were going for that and it was accomplished! Awesome camera work Charlie! The changing perspectives and the audio/video syncing is great. Great set pieces! The sermon in the church is just perfect. True cult leader status. When Metz, Phil, and Michael showed up I yelled. The interviews looked amazing and were very fluid in their placement. Did y'all travel to them to get these segments? And the review......I know Moid was forced to put the review in there, by Roy. It made me tear up when the traditional MDC review popped up and when Moid forgot the books while saying the title, made me feel real good. Moid's reviews helped keep me sane during the pandemic, and I always maintain that Moid is the best book reviewer in the biz. That being said, if we never ever get a traditional book review ever again, this was the way to end it. Hopefully this video causes bookstores to sell out of Gene. Not many people let their copies out of their possession, so good luck everybody. Love you guys. Love MDC. Great work! Long live the cult!

[@Charlie_Lap]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@fancifuldevices]

I read this like 20 years ago and I knew I was missing a lot. You can feel things meaning… something , as you read. But I couldn’t put any of it together. Man I needed this! Thank you.

[@Etry63]

Here we go

[@Underleaf76]

I play a lot of D&D and I modeled a character after Severian in a campaign of The Curse of Strahd. He was a Vampire Hunter and Torturer, who himself happened to be a self-loathing Vampire, he also weilded his sword Terminus-Est. He was a lot of fun to play. And btw such an in depth analysis, of one of my favorite Gene Wolfe series. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video.

[@cthulu8mytoast]

Hands down, one of my favorite novels. A friend of mine loaned me the entire series. Instead of returning the books. I offered him $50 for the entire set of hardcover books. I liked the art on the books and fell in love with the series. Never regretted it.

[@bendybruce]

I've finally finished watching this and I have to say this video was almost as much of a masterpiece as the book series itself. You really should feel proud of yourself for creating this, It's even inspired me to go back and read the book series again.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@fernandogarcia3957]

Oh! I listen to Alzabo Soup every week. Great guys, they delve very nicely into Wolfe's works. I read TBotNS 17 years ago and was amazed, in awe. I still am.

[@moresmaiorum9691]

This is very good. I set Wolfe aside after The Claw as I was having difficulty. This inspires me to pick him up again. Thank you.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Godspeed

[@jadziaschillzone]

In my opinion it got more difficult for book 3, but like Moid said, Citadel of the Autarch is a satisfying reward 😂😂😂 most of the time 😅

[@Atop77]

I would definitely add 'A Voyage to Arcturus' by David Lindsay into the mix of books to read post New Sun. One of the main reasons I love Book of the New Sun is because it reminds me of A Voyage to Arcturus. Similar vibes, deep rereadable writing, one person traveling through strange environments while growing and learning and suffering. I'm pretty sure Gene Wolfe claimed this as inspiration in his writings.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thanks, we actually made an Arcturus video a few months ago

[@releasethequackin266]

This video is exactly what was needed, I think, there's not enough video presentations on Wolfe on KZbin. It's been five years after his passing and I know he's popular but seeing this honestly made me so happy. I hope it brings new eyes to his amazing work (though spoilers abound!). Really, really great work guys! For anyone interested, there are also great podcasts out there, I highly recommend Re-Reading Wolfe and Alzabo Soup.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thanks

[@silva29]

I have read the first book about three times and I didn't even realize some of the points and implications you brought up in your video regarding the first book. Amazing work.

[@IRuinEvrything]

my favorite part about Jonas is that the claw ruins him. He was fine. Bringing the meat he was fixed with back to life caused major conflict and destroyed him. Terrifying.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Yeah, i'll be talking a lot more about Jonas in the sequel to this video

[@SLMDNKAHO]

I’m going to read Urth and come back to this

[@MediaDeathCult]

Very wise

[@floatingdisc9800]

Fantastic video! I completely share your love of the BotNS series. It has enthralled me for about 15 years now. I first picked it up second hand in a hurry to have something to read on a long flight. As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I had discovered something deeper and richer than anything I had ever previously read, or probably ever would again. Thanks for breaking down the timeline, and for evangelising about Urth of the New Sun - I struggle with that book but now I look forward to rereading it with a different light. Thanks again and keep up the great work!

[@ahaeron]

I know what I’m doing tonight. Thanks!!

[@kurtgoldstein3254]

That's your best film ever man. And I've seen them all. I personally doubt that churchgoing, religious, everyday praying catholic Wolfe wrote something that rejects traditional religion, but I take it as a excuse for my 4th reread.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Me neither, but we see what we want right? And thank you

[@Belemrys]

I have shared this everywhere!

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You

[@michellevey9608]

Thanks for the ❤! I made a comment early on about poor Jolenta. And now you're talking about her!!!

[@Mentat1231]

I read the first four books with the cult read-along, but I never read Urth... I think I may need to do that first and then come back to this video... And then read them all again.

[@MediaDeathCult]

That would be wise, the video will be waiting for you

[@Mentat1231]

I'm back. Just finished Urth of the New Sun. My God... (literally?) Ok, now I'm ready to thoroughly enjoy this video. Thank you for doing this, Moid!

[@dustedtemple]

Thank you. I have also been obsessed with these books for many years now.

[@MediaDeathCult]

You're welcome

[@LightningRaven42]

Even though I haven't read Urth yet, I would like to thank you Moid for presenting, and selling, this amazing book series to me. It quickly rose, along with Dune, to my top favorite book series ever. Also, I'm currently reading Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Which, by the way, I hope Mycroft Canner's story also gets the same treatment as Severian. Terra Ignota is a masterclass in world-building. More people need to know how amazing these books are!

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you, great comment

[@404Assassin]

I’m so glad that there are others who appreciate these books like I do.

[@lordlawless5183]

Thanks. This was vastly more enjoyable than slogging through the unreliable narration of the first book. Which soured me on the whole series.

[@alanpennie8013]

I don't know why people call Severian an unreliable narrator. Though it's admittedly not easy to describe dying and being resurrected (at least twice in that first book).

[@Pacal_II]

The Hierogrammates tell Severian " Your race and ours are, perhaps, no more than each other's reproductive mechanisms." The Hierogrammates in Yesod seem to consider humanity somehow important. When Severian spends some time in Yesod after he comes back to Urth he's about 1000 years earlier than where he originally started. So it's possible that time moves backwards relative to our time (but at a different pace, a few days there thousand years heres). This would also explain why the hierodules constantly move in time opposite to Severian, they just go back to Yesode for a few minutes/days and go back to Urth being at the exact time they need to. So I'm wondering is it possibly that humanity (or some race of the future, green urth) eventually either evolves into or creates the Hierogrammates? Either their creators or the hiegrammates themselves learn how to travel to Yesod or possibly create it themselves. That's how they're able to escape the divine year, by escaping into this higher plane of existence. Of course that leaves them with one concern they have to look over the universe their origins are tied to and make sure that the timeline goes correctly and they end up being born.

[@alanpennie8013]

I like that idea. Their cosmic meddling is necessary for self preservation.

[@chungusdisciple9917]

Been waiting for this video Moid! bless you

[@technist5246]

I am pretty sure every time Severian time travels he simply projects a copy of himself into the new time. The old Severian stays where/when he initially was.

[@MichaelTamburrino]

The hype is real! Cannot wait to settle in and watch this later!

[@jaxobophiuchi676]

I’m eager to hear a fellow Wolfe lover’s take on Severen’s story. I’m sure to revisit this again and again. These are my favorite Sci-fantasy books of all time. Read em all 3 times…need to Read the other two Sun series again.

[@dcieniuch]

Your most ambitious video to date. I have always admired your dedication to what you do, the time and effort you put into such documents is simply amazing and I will always be grateful for your work. Thanks to you, I have discovered this series and many other great books over the last few years. Thank you!

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure, thanks

[@matthewconstantine5015]

Man. When I read it, probably 25 years ago, I loved Shadow of the Torturer. I was left completely flummoxed by Claw of the Conciliator. I barely made it through, and couldn't bring myself to read the next book. I still own them, so we'll see.

[@MediaDeathCult]

It's not for everyone

[@robbmnr8221]

I can only imagine the many drafts of the script and the hours you spent rewriting. Then of course, how to film it, fab stuff Moid it’s all paid off. I loved it. Will watch it again when I’m reading the books, great idea in the time stamps, just wonderful stuff. I hope your pleased with it as well.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You, i'm pretty happy with it

[@chantheman8443]

Have been looking forward to this video for weeks now, hype that its finally out

[@reirei7086]

Gotta commend the sheer amount of time and effort to bring all of this together in such an accessible and easy to understand way

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@donkey3235]

MOID!!!! I love Gene Wolfe content. Please read book if long sun (it’s the worst series but still great) because you MUST read book of the short sun!!!! It’s even better!

[@Ruggliff]

When i was a freshman in highschool i picked up both of the omnibus books for $.25 at a used book store. They have been my favorite books ever since.

[@Lahuster]

half a minute in and i already know this is gonna be a good watch

[@Xsiondu]

I came across this book in camp one year. Had a buddy who was reading it and enjoyed it very much. I tried to get into it, but reading comprehension for things like proverbs and subtext has always alluded me. My brain just doesn't pickup such things. I greatly appreciate your review of this book it had helped me understand it more and now what i read makes more sense.

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure

[@danieldelvalle5004]

Mood, you've done a great service to all the readers of TBOTNS, and future readers. I've only read it once, but your video makes me want to read it again, which I definitely will as well as the other books in Wolfe's solar cycle. This is definitely a tribute to the sublime, a marvelous frisson.

[@MediaDeathCult]

thanks

[@Dylan13Collins]

Not only am I sad this is over, I'm also tempted to just watch it all over again! Unbelievable job as always Moid! We love your content and your incredible quality.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You

[@bighex5340]

The timing on this drop is crazy, i finished UotNS literally yesterday. Damn good timing.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Hope you enjoy it

[@epone3488]

Given the transhuman elements, it makes so much sense that torcher -as oposed to just death sentenses - is the prefered mode of punishment... It hadnt occured to me before now. Talos in greek myth which GW loves is a bronze automamton. nuff said.

[@alanpennie8013]

Let's not forget that Theseus and The Minotaur show up in the second book. I've no idea why.

[@dominicg11]

You've just made my next read a return to these books. I love Gene Wolfe and I know I should re read them more

[@MediaDeathCult]

Cool

[@distranthegloriouslydeform9259]

Ive been waiting for a good video essay on wolfe. Thanks dude.

[@MediaDeathCult]

You're very welcome

[@seanclark9891]

Brilliant summarization and filming!

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@siener]

The Book of the New Sun is one of my favorite series ever, but I never read Urth of the New Sun. I really thought it was just a cash grab. You've convinced me otherwise. I paused the video just before you started talking about it. I'll come back to watch the rest when I'm done. Great video so far

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@siener]

At long last I can report back. Amazing book, awesome video. I must say that I struggled through the first part. I was really worried that the whole book was going to be Severian's misadventures on the ship with the test right at the end. I'm glad I stuck with it. From the moment Severian arrived back on Urth, I was completely hooked and I couldn't put it down. It's a satisfying and mind bending conclusion to the story. I really wonder if Gene Wolfe had this all planned out or whether this was just a clever retcon. Either way, it's genius. As for the main theme of the series, I don't think of it as a story about a messiah figure who's an immoral asshole (although he is that), but rather a story about a messiah who's a bumbling fool. A kinder take is maybe to say that it's a story about the awesome and ineffable power of destiny 😀. Severian has very little agency in the story. Sure, he makes decisions and does things, and those things have impact, but it's never the case that he has some well thought out plan where he gradually works towards some desired outcome. He's emotional, impulsive and inconsistent. For all the talk of his perfect memory, he can't seem to stay focused on his goals or the decisions he made earlier. He haphazardly stumbles from one random event to the next. He's almost as much a passenger on this wild ride as we are. Or maybe I'm talking out of my ass 😀. I think I should go read the first four books again. I've read them three or four times already, but the last time was a while back.

[@siener]

P.S. My recommendation in the genre of sci-fi masquerading as fantasy is C. J. Cherryh's Morgaine Cycle. I loved it when I read it, but that was more than 30 years ago when I was in high school, so I don't necessarily trust my own judgement. Maybe it's time for me to revisit it.

[@Ntwolf1220]

Well great timing uploading this! Just finished Urth last week. Thanks brother

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure, i hope the video flicks a couple of beans for you

[@tmoh99]

Had to pause an hour in to comment- it strikes me that the time travels of severian/ conciliator relate to Christ as being present in history about 2000 years ago and also being omnipresent as the Logos with god in the beginning and all things made through him, darkness not understanding him bit…… Also hints in wolfe’s callbacks and obscure foreshadowing of Old Testament passages being reworked as prophecy in the New. Of course there are many many layers here besides….. Again- loving this episode already mood and I’m sure I’ll watch it time and time again! Thank you sooooo much for all the work and thought that went into to it!

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure

[@ducciomori46]

This is the type of video I love to see on telling and explaining of books with passion, and i do hope to see this done for other stories

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You

[@Jester1411]

Amazing work… I am just on my second re read after a long time and this is a great summary…. It gets less confusing after every re read

[@MediaDeathCult]

Until it gets confusing again, just you wait

[@Jester1411]

@@MediaDeathCult 😄

[@freshhands9461]

The synopsis made perfect sense and I had no further questions at all :D But thank you very much for elaborating! One of my favourite fictional worlds ever...there simply isn't anything like it.

[@thisguy3031]

Great production, mate. Top notch👍

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@jasonrhome710]

One of my favorite tech timeline asides in the books is how the towers of the torturers and witches are implied to be derelict space rockets. Also, isn't it implied that the library that the photo of the moon landing is stored in is itself somewhere outside of time? I might bring the books on my upcoming vaykay to read again...

[@alanpennie8013]

I think you may be right. The Library is at least partially in Yesod.

[@gerryleb8575]

Thanks for posting. Brilliant.

[@paulh7751]

Incredible, thanks for this, I think it will have to be split into a number of sessions to be fully appreciated! I read these books during lockdown and I still ponder it regularly, so much mystery to unpack!!

[@conorsowersby1274]

Thank you for this

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure

[@howardhavardramberg333]

powerhouse of a video 😎

[@MediaDeathCult]

Cheers

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Dang it! I've only read the first two, so I can't watch this entire video! What I did watch looks incredible. I'll come back when I've finished the series and watch the rest.

[@MediaDeathCult]

We'll be waiting for you, and remember it's 5 books

[@Dejasmo]

Bravo!

[@alanpennie8013]

The Urth of The New Sun (which I haven't read) seems like an enormously extended version of Van Vogt's Seesaw (1941) which impressed me a good deal when I read it as a child. Severian's quest to return The Claw to The Pelerines is admirable. A point worth making since he's an equivocal character in some ways. Regarding Severian and The Moon Landing, I think it's a combination of Severian's rather partial education and the fact that The Moon was terraformed a long time ago. It's admittedly a bit weird that none of Autarch Severian's other personalities knew about The Moon Landing, but perhaps his private memories were sectioned off.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thanks for the comment. At the time Severian saw the moon landing painting, he hadn't "consumed" anyone else and he was writing the memoir as if he was in the moment.

[@DrGonzoSpain]

Thrice I´ve started this tetralogy: When I was 13, at 18 and at 25 yo and thrice I´ve abandoned it. Mind you, the editions I have are old and not particularly well translated, so it seems to me like an even more dense reading. However whenever I think about it, there is something so evocative about the world Wolfe describes that I need to try to read it again. I think your video will help me with the more obscure parts of the writing. Thank you!

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure

[@tmoh99]

God love ya Moid!!! So excited for this!

[@mikeruel6238]

I love the video and format. I read these books when I was young and didn’t appreciate them, I tried a couple of years ago when you put reviewed them, and mostly didn’t only saw the things the book was saying based on your videos. Might not be as smart as I like to think. Would love to see a similar format on PKD, or Ender’s universe, or Dune.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank You

[@alexbigday1587]

Moid, this looks like your magnum opus! Although I don't know if I should watch it fully, since I plan on reading this series in a near future, and you always say that your videos contain spoilers for the book that you review in each one, so I think I should pause it and watch it once I'm done with Wolfe's work.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Very wise

[@thedreadtyger]

i have meant to read these for years. the first few minutes of your video have convinced me to acquire the links to the audiobooks here on yt. the Sword of the Lictor is missing, but i intend to go ahead. thanks for the impetus, and when i have finished them i shall return to your video.

[@grave0x]

This book series sounds like a wild ride

[@koanbonwa]

You already had my attention, but invoking the Judea Peoples Front brought a happy ending off, with a tear of laughter. 🤌🏻

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you, I'm glad somebody noticed

[@feanor7080]

Brilliant exploration of a literary masterpiece. I’m reading the Book of the Long Sun, and it has been a transformative reading experience. I cannot wait to finish the entire Solar Cycle.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Thank you

[@alessandrotragni100]

Thank you for introducing me to this awesome book! The first time I read the first instalment I didn't quite understand what was going on, especially in the second half of the book. Then, two years later (1 month ago), I gave it a second chance and now it is one of my favourite series ever

[@MediaDeathCult]

My pleasure

[@mikaelmarklund7908]

Finally 🎉 thank you 🙏 just finished my reread of the 5 books two weeks ago. What a timing ⏱️ Love it, great. The best book ever written

[@MediaDeathCult]

You're welcome

[@michellevey9608]

Ah yes...The Urth Of The New Sun. That was a tough one for sure! The meeting with Dr. Talos has always stuck in my mind the most.

[@LukeBunyip]

Giving you a thumbs up, without watching this through, as I'll have to read the titles I've missed. THEN I'll come back and watch this