Shadow & Claw
The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun'
by Gene Wolfe
Should I read this?
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Science Fiction, Most Recommended Books, and Science Fiction.
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 aw...
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Why recommended
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Science Fiction, Most Recommended Books, and Science Fiction.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Neil Gaiman
“The best science fiction novel of the last century. A four volume book about memory and truth.”
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Recommended by 24 sources.
“This novel starts as a mystery rooted in a woman’s tragic experience during China’s Cultural Revolution, then spirals into a high-concept alien contact story built on intricate physics and game theory. The useful part lies in its audacious imagination: a three-body solar system, a virtual reality game, and a shocking revelation about humanity’s place in the universe. The limiting part may be its cold, analytical style and flat characters; emotion takes a backseat to ideas, and the scientific digressions can feel like lectures. It’s a slow burn that rewards intellectual curiosity but might alienate those craving warmth or narrative immediacy.”
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How recommendation signals are reviewed
Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.
Shadow & Claw
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