THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN

The Shadow of the Torturer is a science fantasy novel by American writer Gene Wolfe, published by Simon & Schuster in May 1980. It is the first volume in The Book of the New Sun, a tetralogy which Wolfe had completed in draft before this novel was published. The story follows Severian, an apprentice Seeker for Truth and Penitence in the guild of torturers, from his youth through his expulsion and subsequent journey out of his home city of Nessus.

I hesitated to pick up The Shadow of the Torturer for a long time, possibly due to its daunting title and reputation as a challenging read. However, after finishing Jack Vance’s Dying Earth series, my curiosity was piqued by frequent mentions of The Book of the New Sun as a must-read for fans of Vance. Now that I’ve read it, I can confidently say I’m glad I did. It’s a masterpiece of the genre, deserving to be ranked alongside other great fantasy and sci-fi novels of the twentieth century, such as The Lord of the Rings, Dying Earth, Dune, Game of Thrones, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Initially, I found the first few chapters confusing. The first-person narrative thrusts you directly into the world as the main character, Severian, recounts his life story. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a story about an apprentice torturer or whether I would enjoy it. Was it going to be a violent tale about a cruel protagonist in strange settings? Thankfully, it turned out to be far more than the edgy fantasy the title might suggest. It’s a traditional hero’s journey, where our young protagonist sets off into the wider world in a picaresque tale, encountering a variety of intriguing characters and places.

The first few chapters left me puzzled, the next three intrigued, the following four hooked, and beyond that, I was in awe of the masterpiece unfolding before me. Wolfe’s work is profound without being pretentious, unique yet accessible, especially to fans of Vance’s Dying Earth. The book’s tone and atmosphere are reminiscent of the dark, gothic worlds found in FromSoftware games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Bloodborne. Wolfe’s excellent prose and vivid descriptions create a lingering impact, and I found myself eagerly looking forward to each reading session to see what would happen next.

Severian, an apprentice in the Torturers’ Guild, barely survives a swim in the River Gyoll. On his way back to the Citadel, he and other apprentices sneak into a necropolis where Severian encounters Vodalus, a legendary revolutionary. By saving Vodalus’s life during a confrontation, Severian earns his trust and the reward of a single coin.

Severian later falls in love with Thecla, a beautiful aristocratic prisoner. Thecla’s crime is implied to be political, given her connection to Thea, Vodalus’s lover. When Thecla is tortured, Severian takes pity on her and helps her commit suicide by smuggling a knife into her cell, breaking his guild’s oath.

Instead of being executed for his disobedience, Severian is sent to Thrax, a distant city in need of an executioner. Armed with Terminus Est, a magnificent executioner’s sword, Severian travels through the decaying city of Nessus. He encounters various characters, including Baldanders and Dr. Talos, who invite him to join their play, and Agia, a shop owner who lures him into a duel. Severian survives the duel, miraculously heals, and continues his journey, accompanied by Dorcas, a young woman he finds in a lake of the dead.

Severian, the protagonist, is a compelling character. He’s direct and straightforward, yet inherently likable despite his conditioning to accept torture and execution as normal. Although the frequency and willingness of his romantic encounters felt implausible, the interactions between Severian and the female characters were intriguing and compelling. They reminded me of how Robert E. Howard used women in the Conan stories to reveal a more gentle and civilized side of a violent character. There’s a sort of youthful innocence that endears Severian and his gothic, melancholic world to the reader.In many ways he reminded me of Clint Eastwood’s man without a name character from Serigo Leone’s Fistfull of Dollars Trilogy.

This for me makes Severian is a fascinating protagonist, embodying the qualities of both a hero and an anti-hero. His role as a torturer and executioner is juxtaposed with moments of compassion and moral struggle, making him a deeply complex and relatable character. His encounters with various characters, from Thecla and Agia to Vodalus and Dorcas, further develop his understanding of power, justice, and humanity.

Gene Wolfe’s prose in The Shadow of the Torturer is both lyrical and intricate, drawing readers into a world that feels at once distant and familiar. Wolfe’s use of a first-person narrative through Severian’s flawless memory adds a unique dimension to the storytelling. Severian’s ability to remember everything perfectly allows Wolfe to weave a complex tapestry of events, characters, and themes.

One of the novel’s central themes is the interplay between memory and identity. Severian’s journey is not just physical but also deeply introspective, exploring the nature of memory and its influence on the present and future. This is mirrored in the setting of a far-future Earth, where the past is a constant presence, influencing the decaying present.

Wolfe’s world-building is baroque in its complexity, with every detail serving a purpose in the larger narrative. The dying sun and decaying civilization create a backdrop of impending doom and renewal, reflecting Severian’s own journey of death and rebirth.

Upon its release, The Shadow of the Torturer was acclaimed for its originality and depth. In 1987, Locus magazine ranked it number four among the 33 “All-Time Best Fantasy Novels,” highlighting its significance in the genre.

Wolfe’s influence is evident in the way he blends fantasy and science fiction, creating a narrative that transcends traditional genre boundaries. The subsequent volumes in The Book of the New Sun series, along with the connected Book of the Long Sun and Book of the Short Sun series, further expand and deepen the world Wolfe created.

The Shadow of the Torturer is a masterful beginning to Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun series. Its intricate plot, rich symbolism, and profound exploration of memory and identity make it a standout work in the science fantasy genre. Wolfe’s baroque narrative style and complex world-building invite readers to immerse themselves in a story that is as thought-provoking as it is enchanting. For those willing to engage with its layers of meaning and narrative intricacies, The Shadow of the Torturer offers a deeply rewarding reading experience.

I’m thrilled to have three more books in this story arc and another two tomes set in the same universe to look forward to. The Shadow of the Torturer is a masterpiece, and I have nothing but praise for it and its author. If you love dark fantasy, I highly recommend adding this book to your reading list.