I finished reading Gene Wolfe's CLAW OF THE CONCILIATOR, second book in his "Book of the New Sun" series. I read the book originally 20 years ago, but I'm rereading the entire four volumes in preparation for reading the subsequent "Book of the Long Sun" and "Book of the Short Sun" series.

This volume holds up even better than I anticipated, continuing the travels of Severian the Torturer across Urth on his way to accepting employment in the city of Thrax. Urth is filled with wonders, and intrigue, and although some of it seems almost magical, Wolfe tells us through one of his characters, "There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less."

This book is highly-recommended