Rating: 
Summary: Not Your Typical Fantasy
Review: What Gene Wolfe has done in these books is to create something completely new, which is a rare thing in the realm of fantasy. Sure, there are great books in the field that have stood the test of time (Lord of the Rings, for instance) but these are inevitably surrounded by massive numbers of pale imitations. These books are so unusual I have nothing to which I can compare them. I read the first book, The Shadow of the Torturer, years ago, and yet I find myself going back again and again to reread this scene or that. When you are reading it, it doesn't even seem that it is affecting you, but there are scenes which will haunt you later. The language is rich--keep a dictionary by your side!--and varied and the world is utterly alien. The characters are memorable and the plot keeps on surprising you. If you enjoy a challenging read, I cannot recommend this highly enough and I cannot wait to read the final two books.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to the reviews, but not a bad read
Review: I bought and read Shadow of the Torturer based on the number of five star reviews given on this sight. That raised my expectations to very high levels, which the book wasn't quite capable of measuring up to. That being said it is a good story.Wolfe's world is a unique and strange one and he does a good job at building an image of a strange future dystopia set in the far, far future. I think his use of vocabulary that hasn't been seen on pages in decades helps visualize Urth's strangeness, although he tends to overwrite at times. He gives a very decent description of a decaying city and the strange society that inhabits it. The weaknesses? On one hand the torturers' guild themselves aren't exactly sympathetic subjects. The main character, Severian has a number of faults, the most annoying being his ability to fall in love with just about every woman he sees after about five minutes with them. And those woman? They are very one dimensional characters- Madonna/Whore types. Woman and love are one area most fantasy/sci-fi writers need to stay away from. Either that or they need to expand their personal lives a bit. Be that as it may, it IS a good read. I'll certainly read the sequel if for no other reason than to see more of Wolfe's description of his world of Urth, it's background and to see if his character development has improved. I've not read anything else he's written, but he certainly has the tools to be a very good writer in the genre.
Rating:
Summary: Why is this so good?
Review: By the sword and sorcery covers, and the rather corny titles, most people will expect high adventure from these books. They will be gravely disappointed. This series will only appeal to some people. It is a slow read, a poetic read. A read filled with metaphysical ponderings, and with plots that simply boggle your mind. All that old mythos that you read in school seems to come alive in these books, in one form or the other. Everything has some meaning, but the reader should feel no pressure to prematurely understand it. Just turn the pages slowly and in the end some will be revealed, and some will remain hidden. When you have turned the last page, let the book rest on your bookshelf for a couple of years, take up your life and let your mind assimilate all that was said. Then you take it out and read it all over again. After being done, you will understand the rave reviews this series have gotten, and why it has been hailed as a masterpiece. At the first glance, it is simply a very poetic adventure with intelligent plots. However, in my opinion, its most important attribute is that of a great journey into the metaphysical. It draws heavily from the kaballah and the bible, and should as such; a tool for personal growth, not be underestimated. Simply beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Brilliance
Review: Hands down Gene Wolfe is the best Sci Fi(Fantasy) author that has ever taken pen to paper. Elements of both Sci Fi and Fantasy are present in this book. This book is a masterpiece, but not for those who enjoy cookie cutter, bubble gum fantasy. The surface plot is simple, but beneath it lies such a vast overwhelming subplot that when you realize it your breath will be taken away. Subthemes of politics, religion, and pschology abound. This is truly a book to be read more than once. Keep a dictionary on hand and don't get frustrated. Then read it again. Gene Wolfe stands among the greats of literature, breaking the boundaries between great literature and sci fi. Wolfe is the equal of Tolkien and stands heads above Herbert and the ilk. Pick this book up and you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn...What have I been reading for the last 20 pages?
Review: Cured me of insomnia. It was torture getting through all four volumes of this incomprehensible story of a very far future dying Earth with aliens and cyborgs traveling back and forth through time and all kinds of goofy allusions to mythologies of every ilk and ancient abandoned spaceports used as fortress cities and...Well, you get the picture --- not very original stuff, and to make matters worse, a very pretentious writing style --- so get out your dictionary, you're going to need it several times on just about every page (Hey, I have a Ph.D., so I ain't dumb...). And, to paraphrase: Yes, it's a hard (and exceedlingly long) read --- and ,in the end, not worth the effort. It's "Sci Fi" for "literary" people who really don't like sci fi, but, if they did, this is the kind of stuff they'd like it to be...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...Save your time and money and read Jack Vance instead. Now, there's a for real Dying Earth!
Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: What a boring book. (Or rather, what a boring bunch of 4 books). The main character is Severian the torturer who pursues his destiny across the lands of Urth. Torture, cannibalism, grave robbing, public executions ad nauseum abound. I hope I'm not spoiling anything when I say that Severian does eventually decide to quit his job (well, duh). Wolfe uses some excellent descriptive prose to fashion an Urth of the far future. The place is alright but the motivations of the main characters are obscure and consequently uninteresting. I would suggest Zola and his pit ponies for a much better read.
Rating:
Summary: This book is not a "masterpiece"...
Review: After reading the reviews for this book, I was really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it didn't come close to meeting my expectations. True, it's a great concept for a book, and I enjoyed getting tiny glimpses into the history and background of this world. However, nothing can salvage the fact that the plot is pretty thin and the writing style is cumbersome for no other apparent reason than for the author to appear clever. I'm still glad I read the book, but don't think for a second that this book is in the same league as Dune, or Lord of the Rings. That kind of talk is absurd.
Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: what a great book. wonderful characters, wonderful writing. you CANNOT go wrong with this series. exceptional work. i highly reccomend reading them
Rating: 
Summary: A-Mazin
Review: Let me first say that I loved this book... ...but it is not for the faint of heart... Wolfe doesn't give anything to the reader...you are compelled to try to sort out what the heck is going on from the fragments that enter your brain through the eyes of a protaganist who is far better aquainted with the world you travel through then you will ever be...it's a wild and at times taxing ride... ...somehow the author has recreated the sense we all get when we come in at the middle of something and have to sort it all out ourselves...a bit like life... His characters are real people...balanced...vulnerable... "The Torturer" is comprehendable...and likable...a feat in itself... It almost goes without saying that the beauty of his writing style alone is worth the ticket of admission... Looking to hang out in the sun ...cool breeze blowing through your hair...skip this book... Want to be engaged...and A-Mazed...look no further
Rating:
Summary: Incomparable work - transcends the genre
Review: The book of the new sun series is absolutely superb and transcends the genre it is written in, drawing heavily on Greek myth, mediaeval imagery and a whole host of cultures past, present and dare I say it: future. Brilliant! Buy it in hardback so you can read it again and again.
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