The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe
The Book of the New Sun, Volume I
The novel follows a young apprentice torturer named Severian who is exiled for showing mercy to one of his victims by allowing her to die. As he travels through a futuristic, dystopian world, he becomes embroiled in a series of political and supernatural events, while also grappling with his own moral compass and the nature of his profession. The story is steeped in allegory and symbolism, with a narrative that explores themes of memory, truth, and the nature of storytelling.
The 4220th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1980
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 300-400
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.1)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 7 lists:
- 26th on Top 100 Fantasy Books (Fantasy Book Review)
- 78th on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 97th on Fantasy and Horror: A Critical and Historical Guide (Book)
- 1384th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels (David Pringle)
- The British Science Fiction Association Awards - Novel (British Science Fiction Association)
- World Fantasy Award—Novel (World Fantasy Awards)