The shadow of the torturer

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Gene Wolfe: The shadow of the torturer (1980, Timescape Books, distributed by Simon and Schuster)

276 pages

English language

Published Nov. 7, 1980 by Timescape Books, distributed by Simon and Schuster.

OCLC Number:
17775937

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4 stars (8 reviews)

The Shadow of the Torturer is the first volume in the four-volume series, The Book of the New Sun. It is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession -- showing mercy toward his victim -- and follows subsequent journey out of his home city of Nessus.

16 editions

reviewed Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (Book of the New Sun (1))

Review of 'Shadow of the Torturer' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Seriously, this world treats women like another, lesser species. It's another example of the common male belief (male, because I've never yet read a work by a woman that depicts the future thus) that any breakdown of society will of course include the reduction of women to mere accessories.


As I finish the book, I realize it might be best if I mulled it over a bit before reviewing it. I've no training in criticism, and I don't pretend to be innately skilled at it, but I feel this book might've been just complex enough that I'm left wondering. I don't want to mistake verbosity with cleverness, and I'm just not sure where this lies on the spectrum.


I haven't decided yet if I'm gonna read the next book or not, despite the sudden interruption of an ending, and the multitude of unanswered questions.

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Subjects

  • Fantasy fiction

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