Shadow and Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' (Book of the New Sun)

The Book of the New Sun is unanimously acclaimed as Gene Wolfe's most remarkable work, hailed as "a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis" by Publishers Weekly, and "one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century" by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Shadow and Claw brings together the first two books of the tetralogy in one volume:

The Shadow of the Torturer is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession — showing mercy toward his victim.

The Claw of the Conciliator continues the saga of Severian, banished from his home, as he undertakes a mythic quest to discover the awesome power of an ancient relic, and learn the truth about his hidden destiny.

"Arguably the finest piece of literature American science fiction has yet produced [is] the four-volume Book of the New Sun." Chicago Sun-Times

"The Book of the New Sun establishes [Wolfe's] preeminence, pure and simple....Wolfe creates a truly alien social order that the reader comes to experience from within...once into it, there is no stopping." The New York Times Book Review

"Magic stuff...a masterpiece...the best science fiction I've read in years!" Ursula K. Le Guin

The Book of the New Sun is unanimously acclaimed as Gene Wolfe's most remarkable work, hailed as a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis by Publishers Weekly, and one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Shadow & Claw brings together the first two books of the tetralogy in one volume:

The Shadow of the Torturer is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession — showing mercy toward his victim.

Ursula K. Le Guin said, Magic stuff . . . a masterpiece . . . the best science fiction I've read in years

The Claw of the Conciliator continues the saga of Severian, banished from his home, as he undertakes a mythic quest to discover the awesome power of an ancient relic, and learn the truth about his hidden destiny.

Arguably the finest piece of literature American science fiction has yet produced is] the four-volume Book of the New Sun.--Chicago Sun-Times

The Book of the New Sun establishes his preeminence, pure and simple. . . . The Book of the New Sun contains elements of Spenserian allegory, Swiftian satire, Dickensian social consciousness and Wagnerian mythology. Wolfe creates a truly alien social order that the reader comes to experience from within . . . once into it, there is no stopping.--The New York Times Book Review

Gene Wolfe has been called the finest writer the science fiction world has yet produced by The Washington Post. A former engineer, he has written numerous books and won a variety of awards for his SF writing.

The Book of the New Sun, a series of four novels, is unanimously acclaimed as Wolfe's most memorable work, hailed by Publishers Weekly as a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis--and by The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction as one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century.

Shadow & Claw collects the first two novels in this Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning tetralogy: The Shadow of the Torturer and The Claw of the Conciliator.

The Book of the New Sun establishes Wolfe's] pre-eminence, pure and simple . . . The Book of the New Sun contains elements of Spenserian allegory, Swiftian satire, Dickensian social consciousness, and Wagnerian mythology. Wolfe creates a truly alien social order that the reader comes to experience from within . . . Once into it, there is no stopping.--The New York Times Book Review

Arguably the best piece of literature American science fiction has yet produced.--Chicago Sun-Times

Gene Wolfe's science fiction masterpiece The Book of the New Sun is now available for the first time in this decade. This critically acclaimed work won both the World Fantasy and Nebula Awards. The saga centers around an orphan whose lifelong quest transforms him from ruthless monster to savior of a world.

Gene Wolfe has been called "the finest writer the science fiction world has yet produced" by The Washington Post. A former engineer, he has written numerous books and won a variety of awards for his SF writing. He lives with his wife Rosemary in Barrington, Illinois.

The Shadow of the Torturer
The Claw of the Conciliator