An extraordinary epic set a million years in the future in the time of a dying sun when our present culture is no longer even a memory Severian a torturer's apprentice is exiled from his guild after falling in love with one of his prisoners Ordered to the distant city of Thrax armed with his ancient executioner's sword Terminus Est Severian must make his way across the perilous ruined landscape of this far-future Urth But is his finding of the mystical gem the Claw of the Conciliator merely an accident or does Fate have a grander plans for Severian the torturer ? This edition contains the first two volumes of this four volume novel The Shadow of the Torturer & The Claw of the Conciliator