«Mech i Tsitadel» - vtoraya polovina proslavlennoy magicheskoy tetralogii «Knigi Novogo Solntsa». «Mech liktora» Severian, stavshiy liktorom goroda Traksa, snova narushaet svoy dolg palacha i ustraivaet pobeg zhenschine, kotoruyu dolzhen byl ubit. On vynuzhden bezhat na sever Sodruzhestva, v gory, presleduemyy strazhey Traksa i chudovischami, nasylaemymi ego starymi vragami. Na severe polyhaet voyna: voyska Avtarha srazhayutsya s armiey astsian. «Tsitadel Avtarha» Istoriya Severiana blizitsya k finalu. On otkroet istochnik sil Kogtya Mirotvortsa i poznaet prirodu Avtarha. Severian vernetsya v Ness, v Tsitadel, k svoim uchitelyam, no uzhe v novom kachestve. Stanet li byvshiy palach Novym Solntsem?