The Claw of the Conciliator

Far into the future in a Dying Earth setting, the torturer Severian continues his travels, carrying with him the ancient executioners sword Terminus Est and a gem of extraterrestrial power, the Claw of the Conciliator. Cast out from his Torturers Guild and exiled, the world of the New Urth is explored through his travels, with the seeming promise of some destiny he is required to fill.

Hmmm...... I thought Shadow of the Torturer was fabulous, with its brilliantly realized world and the fascinating central character, and its scintillating style and originality. There are lots of good things in this second episode of Severian's tale,and it is interesting to see how he becomes a very different seeming person as he reveals more about himself. While seemingly telling a straightforward - if bizarre - tale we are certainly seeing different, less likeable aspects of his character. Talk about unreliable narrators! The style is as hypnotic as ever,each scene sharply described, yet the whole thing becoming rather hallucinatory. But I found this book too episodic, and I became irritated at times by the disparate events, and there seemed at times to be obfuscation just for obfuscation's sake. I will take a break for a few months before I continue the saga. A little disappointing after I was so eager to read it.