Gene Wolfe’s classic science fantasy novel The Book Of The New Sun has become a staple of the genre, only becoming more and more popular with age.
Told over four stories and set in the distant future when the sun has dimmed and Earth is cooler, this legendary fantasy epic tells the story of Severian, a young torturer who is disgraced and forced to wander after falling in love with one of his victims, journeying to the distant city of Thrax, armed with his ancient executioner’s sword, Terminus Est.
In fact, like Severian himself The Book Of The New Sun has almost myth-like qualities, with almost a life of its own. Indeed, Wolf reportedly originally intended the story to be a 40,000-word novella called ‘The Feast of Saint Catherine’, but during the writing, it continued to grow.
That growth doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon with The Folio Society’s spectacular new two-volume collector’s edition. Even Neil Gaimen writes that “the more deeply you delve into The Book Of The New Sun, the more it will repay the delving” in his introduction in this new edition.
Often celebrated as one of the greatest fantasy stories of all time The Book Of The New Sun is getting the treatment it deserves with this new edition, with celebrated artist Sam Weber commissioned to illustrate the work – a labour of love that took the best part of a year to complete.
See an interview below where Weber describes his illustrating process…
This new collector’s edition of The Book Of The New Sun includes eight colour illustrations (four of which are double-page spreads) plus 12 black-and-white illustrations.
The text is printed red and black throughout and includes decorative chapter initials based on an ancient script adapted by Weber to incorporate symbolic references to the story; a fitting tribute to a literary legacy that will stun generations to come.
It’s a beautiful edition that will sit proudly on anyone’s bookshelf. But don’t just take our word for it, check out this selection of Weber’s stunning images from the edition below…
Gene Wolfe’s own definition of a great story was “one that can be read with pleasure by a cultivated reader and reread with increasing pleasure”, and The Book of the New Sun encapsulates that vision. It is both an epic novel and a puzzle; a labyrinth that readers gladly lose themselves within again and again, chasing down each clue and revelation.
The Folio Society edition of Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, introduced by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Sam Weber, is available exclusively from www.FolioSociety.com
