Shadow & Claw

I picked this out to read because I read somewhere that it is one of Neil Gaiman's favorites and I wanted to know, since I'm a fan of Gaiman, what in turn is he a fan of?

Shadow and Claw is certainly unusual; I don't know if I've read anything like it. I may have read something with similar far-future/dying planet ideas, but it wasn't handled this way. It feels like high fantasy but hints are dropped everywhere that it is post-apocalyptic, built on the ashes of our society. The first person narration by Severin gives the reader only info that he knew at any given point in his tale and he only focuses on one element at a time. In other words, readers aren't getting quickly oriented to his world. There's no info-dumping. That could be a plus or minus, depending on your level of patience.

Severin doesn't know a whole lot in the beginning: he was raised in the torturer's guild and knows their lore and laws, and what he's been taught. It's clear every guild keeps things pretty close to the chest. When he does travel to different areas of the metropolis he's from as a messenger and so on, it's clear that every character exists in their little world and that is the sum of their knowledge. Even the librarians have an intellectually sheltered life.

Once Severin is excommunicated from his guild, things become less shadowy and mysterious, more adventurous. The majority of the story in two books consists of Severin and a few traveling companions getting into various dangers; there isn't a driving goal though he has some tasks that carry over from situation to situation. There is also a lot of storytelling within the story with supporting characters telling their stories, or Severin reading from a book, or plays that are performed. A story about stories.

Though Severin is a torturer and executioner we see little of the violence and horrific nature of his profession. Not that I really need a lot of details, but this almost makes light of his role, making him innocent and heroic when that doesn't fit his origins. He spends some time pondering the politics, morals, religion, and so on of the society he lives in, so he is a thoughtful character.

This is a smart book, very clever and entertaining at times. I'm going to have to think it over for a while, whether I want to move on to the next half or reread (which was highly recommended all over the place).