Shadow & Claw: The First Half of "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe (US) (UK) "Recently voted the greatest fantasy of all time,after The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun is an extraordinary epic, set a million years in the future, on an Earth transformed in mysterious and wondrous ways, in a time when our present culture is no longer even a memory. Severian, the central character, is a torturer, exiled from his guild after falling in love with one of his victims, and journeying to the distant city of Thrax, armed with his ancient executioner's sword, Terminus Est. This edition contains the first two volumes of this four volume novel, The Shadow of the Torturer and The Claw of the Conciliator". Source
Sword & Citadel: The Second Half of "The Book of the New Sun" by
Gene Wolfe (US) (UK) "The Sword of the Lictor is the third volume in Wolfe's remarkable epic, chronicling the odyssey of the wandering pilgrim called Severian, driven by a powerful and unfathomable destiny, as he carries out a dark mission far from his home.
The Citadel of the Autarch brings The Book of the New Sun to its harrowing conclusion, as Severian clashes in a final reckoning with the dread Autarch, fulfilling an ancient prophecy that will forever alter the realm known as Urth." Source
The Urth of the New Sun: The sequel to "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe (US) (UK) ""The Urth of the New Sun" is a fine coda to what is arguable the finest piece of literature American science fiction has yet produced, the four-volume "Book of the New Sun,""--"Chicago Sun-Times"
The Loch by Steve Alten (US) (UK) "Loch Ness holds secrets, ancient and deadly. Does a monster inhabit its depths, or is it just myth? Why, after thousands of reported sightings and dozens of expeditions, is there still no hard evidence? Marine biologist Zachery Wallace knows, but the shock of his near-drowning as a child on Loch Ness have buried all memories of the incident. Now, a near-death experience suffered while on expedition in the Sargasso Sea has caused these long-forgotten memories to re-surface. Haunted by vivid night terrors, stricken by a sudden fear of the water, Zach finds he can no longer function as a scientist. Unable to cope, his career all but over, he stumbles down a path of self-destruction...until he receives contact from his estranged father...a man he has not seen since his parents divorced and he left Scotland as a boy." Source
The Domino Man by Jonathan Barnes (US) (UK)
"A young man discovers a manuscript and so begins a bizarre tale that brings together his grandfather, every conspiracy theory you've ever heard about the royal family and the true story about where the power of Number 10 really lies. Readers of The Somnambulist may well recoginise the characters kept within a chalk circle in a cellar beneath Downing Street. With a gallery of vividly grotesque characters, a gleefully satiric take on modern life and a playful and highly literate style, this is an amazingly readable literary fantasy. In his sequel to the crazed Victoriana of The Somnambulist Jonathan Barnes brings his invention, reality, grotesquerie and curiosities bang-up-to-date." Source
The Colours in the Steel by K. J. Parker (US) (UK)
"Perimadeia: the famed Triple City and the mercantile capital of the known world. Behind its allegedly impregnable walls, everything is available—including information that will allow its enemies to plan one of the most devastating sieges of all time. The man called upon to defend Perimadeia is Bardas Loredan, a fencer–at–law, weary of his work and the world. For Loredan is one of the surviving members of Maxen’s Pitchfork, the legendary band of soldiers who waged war on the Plains tribes, rendering an attack on Perimadeia impossible. Until now… But Loredan has problems of his own. In a city where court cases are settled by lawyers arguing with swords not words, enemies are all too easily made. And by winning one particular case, Loredan has unwittingly become the target of a young woman bent on revenge. The last thing he needs is the responsibility of saving a city." Source
The Belly of the Bow by K. J. Parker (US) (UK)
"The city of Perimadeia has fallen. Bardas Loredan, the man who was chosen to save it, is now on the Island—a recluse living in the mountains, away from his family, with only a young apprentice for company. His life as a fencer–at–law is over. Instead, Loredan spends his days perfecting the art of bow making. But his isolation will not last forever, and when the Island comes under attack, his skills as a soldier and leader are once again called into play. The second installment in The Fencer Trilogy, The Belly of the Bow firmly establishes K.J. Parker in the top rank of fantasy writers. " Source
6 comments:
Happy Birthday, and what wonderful gifts... books. Have a great day.
Nice post as well. :)
Just for information. My birthday was on the 23rd of July. Due to some unexpected problems the post has been released today.
Shellie, thank you very much for your birthday wishes. This year I wanted to get some books which have been either highly recommended like the Gene Wolf books or which I "found" again on my to read list like the K. J. Parker books.
Heh,I am the "unexpected problem". Guilty as charged. Happy BDay again and my apologies for the delay.
Alec, we work as a team and there is one thing I learned in my life: When something goes wrong in work of a team iz is always the whole team which takes responsibility.
Thanks again four your BD wishes. I look forward to a great blog year ahead us.
Are you interested in some in-depths thoughts about Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series? Then I recommend to read Larry's post Fantasy Masterworks #1: Gene Wolfe, Book of the New Sun: Shadow and Claw.
Post a Comment