Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' (New… (edition 1994)

Reread Audiobook Oct 2011. Wonder upon wonder. The greatest work of the imagination I have ever encountered. A billion stars. ( )

On the one hand, a consistently immersive prose style, whose mannerisms make the already unfamiliar even stranger. Some interesting play with narrative sequence and temporal experience.

On the other hand, goofy fantasy sex aimed squarely at heterosexual teenage boys. Severian pours himself into a woman, again and again. He enters her. Etc. I don't think there are many women or feminine entities he doesn't penetrate or at least ogle. Not the crones, I guess. Not the ones who die too quickly to impress with his . . . being the protagonist? Having a big sword, with a Latin name? Affecting a cape so dark, it is the hue darker than black?

On, um, a third hand, the plot is episodic rather than organic, moving more like a dream or a tapestry than an interesting story. Here's a thing, then here's a thing interrupting that thing, and here's some goofy fantasy sex, after which some exposition breaks out, then a bit of tender ritual cannibalism ensues, and whilst discussing mythology with boon companions on foot to the unreachable and occasionally forgotten destination whither they are bound, around the bend comes . . . . I get the sense that Wolfe knows his medieval and Renaissance romances, and it's neat to see those layered over science fiction ideas, but at this point I'm tempted to reread M. John Harrison's Viriconium books instead of finishing this tetralogy. Or at least before. ( )

http://onefinemess.rhinopanda.net/2013/02/28/book-review-the-shadow-of-the-tortu... ( )

(My review for each book found under their respective titles.) ( )

http://speculiction.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-of-book-of-new-sun-by-gene-wolfe... ( )