The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe - in my opinion one of the best fantasy series in 20th century. Also his shortstories are great (but Long Sun serie (second one) is worse, as all seconds).


To Ronn_Bman - you were looking for good fantasy books - this is classic!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>
We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. When soldiers take their oath they are given a coin, an asimi stamped with the profile of the Autarch. Their acceptance of that coin is their acceptance of the special duties and burdens of military life--they are soldiers from that moment, though they may know nothing of the management of arms. I did not know that then, but it is a profound mistake to believe that we must know of such things to be influenced by them, and in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic. The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all <hr></blockquote>

Severian - grows in an enclave cut out from the world, Autarch Torturers are his family, he has to become on of them. But he has to leave his easy life, he will get know the Earth, Earth in future, when the Sun is dying. There are people (and not people) who want to kill him apparently without any reason, he does not know their reasons.
His ultimate goal - to save mankind.


Other very good things by Wolfe "The Island of Doctor Death", "The Fifth head of Cerberus" and "Soldier Arete"

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Zbyszek ]</p>

I happen to be reading those books at the moment, and I am finding them to be excellent, although I think they are more Sci-fi than fantasy, The fact they are profound and intelligent differentiates them from the vast majority of that genre

Nobody knows how things works. Mythical beasts, falling empire. In SF technology plays important role, it is an aim or primary tool. In Book of a New Sun technologies are forgotten, there are some remains and sometimes are used like magic but you cant say what is true magic what is an effect of technology.