The Urth of the New Sun

infobox Book |
name = The Urth of the New Sun
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover)
author = Gene Wolfe
illustrator =
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country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Tor Books
release_date = 1987
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
pages = 311 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-312-93033-X
preceded_by = The Book of the New Sun
followed_by = "The Urth of the New Sun" is a 1987 science fiction novel by Gene Wolfe that serves as a sort of coda to his 4-volume "Book of the New Sun" series. Like "Book", it is of the dying earth subgenre. It was nominated for both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1988.

Plot introduction

"Urth" picks up the tale of Severian, the protagonist of "Book of the New Sun", years after that work's end. He leaves his role as Autarch of Urth to seek a new sun for Urth.

Plot summary

Unlike the four part novel of the Book of the New Sun, Urth of the New Sun mostly takes place outside Urth. The book is yet again a continuation of Severian's narration of the aftermath of his ascent to the throne and subsequent journey "between the suns" to be judged and win back the fountain of life that will rejuvenate the slowly dying sun and revive life on earth. When the book begins, Severian has already rewritten his accounts of before and is beginning his new log aboard the spacehip that will take him to Yesod, an enigmatic planet, home to the godlike beings, who have the power to grant Urth and its sun a new lease of life.

Aboard the ship, Severian meets Zak, a mysterious being, who begins small and soon develops human form and turns out to be the all-powerful Tzadkiel of Yesod. Once in Yesod, Severian faces an immense task of facing all the people he had encountered since his childhood, who have died, including Thecla and master Malrubius. After his return to Urth from Yesod, he finds the sun restored to its former glory as he enters the proximity of the solar system. Once on Urth, he through some incidences, learns he has reached Urth after some considerable Urth years. He also learns that he possesses healing power that he once associated with the Claw of the Concilator. He finds his wife Valeria and Baldanders (who has grown enough to match the size of an undine) sitting in the throne room and shortly after he reveals himself, an apocalyptic flood washes away the citadel and most parts of the Urth and thus bringing destruction in the wake of rebirth.