- Hardcover: 1008 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz (18 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575081295
- ISBN-13: 978-0575081291
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,793,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
There are some books you have to have read if you want to claim to know science fiction. This is one of them. (Liz Holliday SCI FI NOW )
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
'One of the great science fantasy epics of all time' George R.R. Martin
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Do you like Nabokov - did you meet the challenge of Pale Fire?
Do you like Borges - did you enter his labyrinths?
If the answer is yes, then you will like Wolfe, and hopefully you will spend some time on Urth!
It is difficult to summarise these books. On the surface they are a bildungsroman detailing young Severian's amazing adventures on a far future earth. So far in the future that - to paraphrase an expression of the late, great Arthur C. Clarke - technology is indistinguishable from magic. But delve deeper and you will find multitudes of puzzles, mysteries and profundities. It is a book that demands rereading: I have read the entirety of it maybe 7 times and I've discovered something new every time.
There are drawbacks to depth, however. Sometimes Wolfe's prose can be tiring, sometimes one may wonder where the plot is going, or be frustrated when interesting characters are not developed and fall by the wayside. Wolfe challenges us to read actively, to think, to pick up clues. The sheer length is daunting too, but if people can put up with thousands of pages of Terry Goodkind or Robert Jordan, then maybe they can try this as well.
I feel that if Wolfe had chosen to write "real" fiction instead of Fantasy or Science Fiction, he would be lauded as one of the best American novelists around.
Do you like Borges - did you enter his labyrinths?
If the answer is yes, then you will like Wolfe, and hopefully you will spend some time on Urth!
It is difficult to summarise these books. On the surface they are a bildungsroman detailing young Severian's amazing adventures on a far future earth. So far in the future that - to paraphrase an expression of the late, great Arthur C. Clarke - technology is indistinguishable from magic. But delve deeper and you will find multitudes of puzzles, mysteries and profundities. It is a book that demands rereading: I have read the entirety of it maybe 7 times and I've discovered something new every time.
There are drawbacks to depth, however. Sometimes Wolfe's prose can be tiring, sometimes one may wonder where the plot is going, or be frustrated when interesting characters are not developed and fall by the wayside. Wolfe challenges us to read actively, to think, to pick up clues. The sheer length is daunting too, but if people can put up with thousands of pages of Terry Goodkind or Robert Jordan, then maybe they can try this as well.
I feel that if Wolfe had chosen to write "real" fiction instead of Fantasy or Science Fiction, he would be lauded as one of the best American novelists around.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Famed for his writing style and well known amongst a certain number of fans of the fantasy genre, Gene has been something of a badly kept secret with recommendations left right and centre. Now for the first time an omnibus of what some would think of as his greatest work has hit the book shops and I hope will allow those unsure of whether to buy a tale or two the pleasure of reading his work for the first time.
After all 1008 pages of reading pleasure for under a tenner. That's pretty damn good value for money and is probably something that will make Gene cringe when he thinks about how long he slaved over each manuscript contained within. High fantasy at its best with easy access for fans new and old and something that will make sure that a high time is had by the readers. Wonderful stuff.
After all 1008 pages of reading pleasure for under a tenner. That's pretty damn good value for money and is probably something that will make Gene cringe when he thinks about how long he slaved over each manuscript contained within. High fantasy at its best with easy access for fans new and old and something that will make sure that a high time is had by the readers. Wonderful stuff.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Its been said before (check out other editions' pages - Shadow and Claw and Sword and Citadel) this book is a masterpiece.
On most basic level can be enjoyed as epic fantasy quest - but you may be put off by the slow pace and challengeing prose if you only read is as this.
Wolfe is a challenge to read but the prose is rewarding and its allusive nature draws you in. As a piece of world building it is superb yet you have to work to find clues and nuggets about this world. Like a historian you must scour this ruler's memoir for traces of his world.
Furthermore and esspecially on repeat readings you can enjoy more than the fascinating world and the quest, and truly begin to unpick the philosophy and metaphysics that lie behind the otherworldy allusiveness of the novel. Sure you might not understand it all first time but you will find you have touched on something truly outstanding. Next time you read yoy might find that thing.
I understand that someone intrested in an easy read would be put off but for those intrested in higher rewards give Wolfe ago.
ONE WARNING HOWEVER - this edition is a traversty as it is poorly bound and has the cover picture from The Fifth Head of Cerberus, which has no aesthetic relation to BOTNS world at all. It like putting Dune's cover on Lord of the Rings - both great books but its not right. Sadly there are no brilliant covers for Wolfe's main series, but the older edition ones are at least an improvement on these!
On most basic level can be enjoyed as epic fantasy quest - but you may be put off by the slow pace and challengeing prose if you only read is as this.
Wolfe is a challenge to read but the prose is rewarding and its allusive nature draws you in. As a piece of world building it is superb yet you have to work to find clues and nuggets about this world. Like a historian you must scour this ruler's memoir for traces of his world.
Furthermore and esspecially on repeat readings you can enjoy more than the fascinating world and the quest, and truly begin to unpick the philosophy and metaphysics that lie behind the otherworldy allusiveness of the novel. Sure you might not understand it all first time but you will find you have touched on something truly outstanding. Next time you read yoy might find that thing.
I understand that someone intrested in an easy read would be put off but for those intrested in higher rewards give Wolfe ago.
ONE WARNING HOWEVER - this edition is a traversty as it is poorly bound and has the cover picture from The Fifth Head of Cerberus, which has no aesthetic relation to BOTNS world at all. It like putting Dune's cover on Lord of the Rings - both great books but its not right. Sadly there are no brilliant covers for Wolfe's main series, but the older edition ones are at least an improvement on these!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lunar Travel and Swords
I agree with everything other reviewers in the 3 stars and below category have said about this book. I endured it to its miserable end hoping for something that never came. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Gary G
a plod with an unfulfilling end
I bought this book on the strength of reviews claiming it to be one of the great sci-fi/fantasy epics. It most certainly is not. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by D. Roche
inferior quality
Either I had bad luck or this book is really of inferior quality.
After I've read half the book a lot of pages had already fallen out. Read more
After I've read half the book a lot of pages had already fallen out. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by C. Fasnacht
Interesting in Parts - Nothing to Rave About
I bought this omnibus on the strength of reviews for the individual boks in the series, and after reading Gene Wolfe's short stories. The last I considered to be gripping. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by Robert
Putting Down A Master
Severian is an apprentice torturer with a perfect memory who runs into trouble when he falls in love with one of his guild's 'clients', as they are euphemistically known. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by EJade
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