It’s time for Book Three of Gene Wolfe’s masterpiece The Book of the New Sun, The Sword of the Lictor. As we get closer to the end of the story, the action starts picking up and the story seems to circle back upon itself. I’m curious as to what happens to Severian and his world. So, let’s see what’s happening?

As we start book 3, Severian and Dorcas are in Thrax, but Dorcas is not happy and slowly dying inside. Severian takes her out of the city to try and heal her. But Severian is again faced with a choice and frees a woman he is supposed to kill. As he flees Thrax, he heads North to search for the Pelerines (to whom he must return The Claw of the Conciliator), but Dorcas decides to go South and resume her previous life (the memories of which have just returned to her).

Severian finds a family that is attacked, but he is only able to rescue the young son (who is also named Severian). But he finds that he can’t always protect people. A lesson he has learned over and over again. Throughout the book, Severian learns that his journey is not what he thinks it is and that he doesn’t have as much control over his life as he would like.

This book isn’t quite up to the level of the previous two books, but it moves faster due to there being a lot more action. Severian finds himself running into the same people and same issues over and over. Severian learns that he and his journey are more important than he thought. But he also faces losses over and over (including Dorcas). Recommended.