Aurora’s End: The Aurora Cycle

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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 and The Claw of the Conciliator.

It is the 29th century and the universe of the Human Hegemony is under threat. Invasion by the warlike Ousters looms, and the mysterious schemes of the secessionist AI TechnoCore bring chaos ever closer.

On the eve of disaster, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set fourth on a final voyage to the legendary Time Tombs on Hyperion, home to the Shrike, a lethal creature, part god and part killing machine, whose powers transcend the limits of time and space. The pilgrims have resolved to die before discovering anything less than the secrets of the universe itself.

Our Heroes Are Back. Kind Of. First, The Bad News: An Ancient Evil--you Know, Your Standard Consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy Deal--is About To Be Unleashed. The Good News? Squad 312 Is Standing By To Save The Day. They've Just Got To Take Care Of A Few Small Distractions First. Like The Clan Of Gremps Who'd Like To Rearrange Their Favorite Faces. And The Cadre Of Illegit Gia Agents With Creepy Flowers Where Their Eyes Used To Be, Who'll Stop At Nothing To Get Their Hands On Auri. Then There's Kal's Long-lost Sister, Who's Not Exactly Happy To See Her Baby Brother, And Has A Syldrathi Army At Her Back. With Half The Known Galaxy On Their Tails, Squad 312 Has Never Felt So Wanted. When They Learn The Hadfield Has Been Found, It's Time To Come Out Of Hiding. Two Centuries Ago The Colony Ship Vanished, Leaving Auri As Its Sole Survivor. Now, Its Black Box Might Be What Saves Them--but Time Is Short, And If Auri Can't Learn To Master Her Powers As A Trigger, The Squad And All Their Admirers Are Going To Be Deader Than The Great Ultrasaur Of Abraaxis Iv. Shocking Revelations, Bank Heists, Mysterious Gifts, Inappropriately Tight Bodysuits, And An Epic Firefight Will Determine The Fate Of The Aurora Legion's Most Unforgettable Heroes--and Maybe The Rest Of The Galaxy As Well.