The Shadow of the Torturer [SEP] publisher
The Shadow of the Torturer
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 of four volumes in "The Book of the New Sun" which Wolfe had completed in draft before "The Shadow of the Torturer" was published. It relates the story of Severian, an apprentice Seeker for Truth and Penitence (the guild of torturers), from his youth through his expulsion from the guild and subsequent journey out of his
known and most highly regarded work is the multi-volume novel "The Book of the New Sun". Set in a bleak, distant future influenced by Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" series, the story details the life of Severian, a journeyman torturer, exiled from his guild for showing compassion to one of the condemned. The novel is composed of the volumes "The Shadow of the Torturer" (1980), "The Claw of the Conciliator" (1981), winner of the Nebula Award for Best