The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe is the third installment in The Book of the New Sun series, following the protagonist Severian on his journey from apprentice to Autarch. The book is described as a mix of episodic adventures, introspection, and metaphysical speculation as Severian wanders aimlessly through a strange and wondrous world. The narrative is rich in symbolism and offers a critical view of society, exploring themes of life, humanity, and the forces at play in the portrayed world.

Characters:

The protagonist, Severian, is deeply introspective as he navigates his complex relationships, with secondary characters providing less impact than earlier volumes.

Writing/Prose:

The author employs a dense, archaic prose style that blends elegance with complexity, often requiring deep engagement and reflection from the reader.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Severian as he embarks on episodic adventures, both strange and intriguing, lacking a traditional plot while emphasizing his aimless journey.

Setting:

The setting is a vividly imagined far-future Earth, characterized by its dying sun and rich, diverse landscapes that blend scientific and fantastical elements.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates between slow, introspective exploration and moments of quickened tension, often sacrificing traditional plot progression.

ON A MOUNTAINTOP beyond the shores of Urth there once lived a lovely woman named Early Summer. She was the queen of that land, but her king was a strong, unforgiving man, and because she was jealous o...

Notes:

The Sword of the Lictor is the third book in The Book of the New Sun series by Gene Wolfe.

The plot is often described as minimal or non-existent, focusing instead on character development and world-building.

Severian, the main character, is an apprentice torturer who becomes Autarch, a leader in a far-future Earth where the sun is dying.

The writing style of Wolfe is complex and dense, pushing readers to engage deeply with the text.

Readers often feel a sense of confusion or frustration when trying to piece together the story and its themes.

Severian's journey is marked by episodic adventures that sometimes appear disjointed but carry deeper meaning upon reflection.

The book has been compared to works like James Joyce's Ulysses for its literary depth and complexity.

Severian's interactions with other characters often explore themes of memory, identity, and the nature of humanity.

Critics recognize that reading Wolfe's work may require multiple readings to uncover its layers and complexities.

The novel is appreciated for its rich imagery, showcasing a unique fictional world full of bizarre creatures and situations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Themes of violence and moral ambiguity may be present, warranting a medium content warning.

From The Publisher:

A Hugo and Nebula Award nominee, The Urth of the New Sun is the long awaited sequel to science fiction Grand Master Gene Wolfe's four-volume classic, The Book of the New Sun.

We return to the world of Severian, now the Autarch of Urth, as he leaves the planet on one of the huge spaceships of the alien Hierodules to travel across time and space to face his greatest test, to become the legendary New Sun or die.

The strange, rich, original spaceship scenes give way to travels in time, wherein Severian revisits times and places which fill in parts of the background of the four-volume work, that will thrill and intrigue particularly all readers of the earlier books. But The Urth of the New Sun is an independent structure all of a piece, an integral masterpiece to shelve beside the classics, one itself.

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About the Author:

Gene Wolfe (1931-2019) was the Nebula Award-winning author of The Book of the New Sun tetralogy in the Solar Cycle, as well as the World Fantasy Award winners The Shadow of the Torturer and Soldier of Sidon. He was also a prolific writer of distinguished short fiction, which has been collected in such award-winning volumes as Storeys from the Old Hotel and The Best of Gene Wolfe.

A recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award, and six Locus Awards, among many other honors, Wolfe was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2007, and named Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2012.

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The Sword of the Lictor

Gene Wolfe

Book 3 in the series:The Book of the New Sun