The Shadow of the Torturer cover art

The Shadow of the Torturer

The Book of the New Sun, Book 1

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The Shadow of the Torturer

By: Gene Wolfe
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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About this listen

 The Shadow of the Torturer is the first volume in the four-volume epic, the tale of a young Severian, an apprentice to the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession - showing mercy towards his victim.©1980 Gene Wolfe (P)2009 Audible, Inc. Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

"The best science fiction novel of the last century." (Neil Gaiman)
  • World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1981
  • Favorite Audiobooks of 2010 (Fantasy Literature)
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Brilliant, the way Gene lays out this story is so deceptively simple but rewards the reader so much once they've finished the series and decided to re read them all

The start of something beautiful

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So I really think the world created by Wolfe is interesting. Severian is a good Mary Sue - philosophical, polite, hot bod, deadly fighter. all the mean want to kill him and all the women wanna be him. Great, no problem with that, a lot of series are built on that back.
But for so much of this book there is no goal to anything, I suppose it is the life and times of Severian and whose life has a goal until they've picked it, but like there isn't a villain, the political machinations discussed are two steps removed from our protag so who knows who's pulling what strings, and more importantly it just doesn't matter. There is this vague implication of some great disaster, or apocalypse maybe?? But by the time we get any implication that it's happening bam, book over.
It's not that I don't care about the characters, although I have some issue with how women are all written the same old damsel in distress, it's just that this feels like babies first escapist fantasy and I can only guess that people like this because they want to be Severian, rather than for it's not so vivid and interesting world. That being said Ive never written diddly squat so who am I to criticize.

Good Writing I suppose

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I have never before read (or rather heard) such vivid and intricately imaginative writing. Wolfe builds a phenomenal world without insulting the reader, and in so doing (by the use of the narrator) creates one of the most fully realized characters and intriguing universes I have ever come to know.

Beautifully written

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a lucid and beautiful piece of sci fi fantasy this series is a piece of art that didn't always make sense but it always made me think.

it's Gaiman-esque

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The story was intriguing. Well written. The narrator performed well. However, the direction of the narrator missed the mark. The entire book is spoken in a soft almost whisper like fashion which gives the entire story a secretive feel. At times I had to significantly turn up the volume of my speakers to hear the words. Frustrating and completely altered the dynamic of this book for me.

Good story. Narration direction lets it down.

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No idea if the book's any good, the narration is so bad I can't get past chapter 1. Only 1 other book in my collection is so poorly narrated: "The Windup Girl". No surprise, it's the same damn narrator >:(

Awful, boring narrator.

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thus novel is a dark slow burn to build and eerie souls like universe. decent but slow to start and leaves many unknowns in the world. worth the read though

dark slow burn

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Excellent storytelling and narration. Would recommend to any fan of science fiction or fantasy. Can't wait to listen to the next books!

10/10

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The book and narration are so well done. Gene Wolfe is amazing and this is his masterpiece

Such a great book

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the story jumps about all over the place. there is no explanation of any of the main themes and the set piece battle is over a an inconsequential attempted theft. plus the wishering of the narration adds to the garbling tale. ill have a refund, the first from audible.

terrible

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