- Paperback: 912 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; Trade paperback edition (18 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575081309
- ISBN-13: 978-0575081307
- Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 4.1 x 23.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 142,158 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 )
Book Description
'One of the great science fantasy epics of all time' George R.R. Martin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nicely packaged omnibus of one of the greatest novels of speculative fiction,
By
This review is from: Severian of the Guild: Shadow of TheTorturer; Claw of The Conciliator; Sword of The Lictor; Citadel of The Autarch: With Shadow of the Torturer AND ... AND Citadel of the Autarch (GOLLANCZ S.F.) (Paperback)
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.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
High Fantasy Compendium,
By Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog "Falcata T... - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Severian of the Guild: Shadow of TheTorturer; Claw of The Conciliator; Sword of The Lictor; Citadel of The Autarch: With Shadow of the Torturer AND ... AND Citadel of the Autarch (GOLLANCZ S.F.) (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.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Speculative Fiction Written - Horrible Edition,
By
This review is from: Severian of the Guild: Shadow of TheTorturer; Claw of The Conciliator; Sword of The Lictor; Citadel of The Autarch: With Shadow of the Torturer AND ... AND Citadel of the Autarch (GOLLANCZ S.F.) (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!
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