Shadow & Claw

This book drew me in from the first sentence: “It is possible I already had some presentiment of my future.” I was amazed that in just eleven words, Wolfe conjured three time periods (the present moment, the future, and a later future while looking back).

The incredible adventures of the narrator, Severian, span five books, and I’ve read them all several times. Shadow is also one of the most challenging science fiction books I’ve read because the author leaves mysteries behind for me to figure out myself.

This book stands as the quintessential masterpiece of the dying earth subgenre and a towering achievement in science fantasy.

Set on a far-future Earth where the sun is dying, this world is steeped in advanced technologies that, having been lost to time, are treated as magical or divine by the current inhabitants. It is at this crossroads that Wolfe utterly enthralled me. His narrative–both philosophically profound and richly imaginative–portrays what appear to be magical artefacts through the lens of forgotten or misunderstood technology.

In the citadel where we meet our protagonist, Severian, decommissioned rocket ships form the turrets, a… show more.

Those familiar with me and my favorites will have been expecting, well…this entire list, but will most especially have been waiting for this series to make its appearance. A cult classic from the early 80s, Gene Wolfe’s masterpiece, The Book of the New Sun is far and away my favorite science fiction series, surpassing even Frank Herbert’s Dune, which held that title for most of my life. Gene Wolfe is, in my opinion, the finest writer our genre has ever produced. No less than Ursula K. LeGuin called him “our Melville,” and not without reason. These books are gorgeous,… show more.

Crafting a dark, mysterious, and mood-driven enigma, Wolfe paints on a future canvas that is a combination of horror and discovery. Instead of flashing back, the novel seems to flash forward and is impactful for that alone. The main character doesn’t seem particularly special but he inherits a world and grows with the knowledge he attains.

It’s a work that leaves the reader wondering what just happened and why. Who is Severian and why is he special? Is he a man or a god? Does reality shape him or vice versa? Questions draw the reader in. I learned that it’s… show more.

Shadow & Claw is a titan of a story. It is dense and delicious and requires a caffeinated state. In the far future, Earth has returned to a medieval-esque society, the sun is dying, and technology is mostly forgotten. In this dystopia, the Guild of Torturers exiles apprentice Severian for showing his victim mercy. From there, Severian embarks on a rich journey that is part quest, part prophecy, and part adventure as he searches for his destiny and the meaning behind an ancient relic. This book is madly ambitious and deserves a slow clap for all it accomplishes.