Questions About The Shadow of the Torturer

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Answered Questions (6)

I'm interested in reading Nightside the Long Sun because I like generation ship stories, but I don't want to read The Book of the New Sun cycle first. Am I going to miss out on much? Or should I read this after all?

Diego Davila Nah, you don't really have to worry about it. Although the two tetralogies obviously occur in the same universe, there is no plot crossover.

Nonetheles…moreNah, you don't really have to worry about it. Although the two tetralogies obviously occur in the same universe, there is no plot crossover.

Nonetheless, I would highly recommend reading the Book of the New Sun. It is a singular series.(less)

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Can anyone give me like an MPAA rating on this novel?

Mark Boyle To paraphrase another answer I have provided with regard to this novel, if I were to assign an MPAA or BBFC rating to this book and its sequels, I wou…moreTo paraphrase another answer I have provided with regard to this novel, if I were to assign an MPAA or BBFC rating to this book and its sequels, I would hazard a guess at PG-13. The book and its sequels contain violence, sometimes explicit, but never dwelt on in prurient detail. There is some sex (not explicit) and certain dark themes are touched upon, including cannibalism and, in one of the subsequent volumes, an instance of what is probably rape. Having said that, none of these themes seem to have been introduced merely for the author's self-gratification and there are certainly far more explicit titles in the "YA" genre. I hope that this response will be of use to you.(less)

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Hi folks, I read The Shadow of the Torturer but did not like it too much - the myteries of that unexplored world intriguing enough, but everything stayed vague, just too vague for me to even make up theories and wonder about hidden meanings. It all seemed confusing and did not give me enough to stimulate my appetite. How is book 2 in that regard? If I read on, will I be rewarded?

Mark White In short yes. The Claw of The Conciliator was a prize winner if that counts for anything. I read it first, then back to Shadow which for me filled in …moreIn short yes. The Claw of The Conciliator was a prize winner if that counts for anything. I read it first, then back to Shadow which for me filled in some background. Get to the end of Claw before deciding to go further or not.

Almost every detail in these books, even seemingly trivial, is significant and will play out in time. But some side issues, things Severian encounters on his journey, may not be fully explained. Severian's world is drawn in fantastic coherence with remarkably few words (I can think of novels twice the length in which the world is merely a sketch). But this means that there are mysteries that remain, that Severian simply accepts as normal and doesn't bother to explain to us.

Through all these books the faux archaic style remains consistent and there are extended digressions that don't always advance the plot (eg Dr Talos's play, tales from the Brown Book). I can understand some readers may find this difficult but if you can handle these then go right ahead. (less)

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Is this appropriate for a teenager?

Mark Boyle My answer to this is naturally completely subjective. It would depend entirely upon the teenager in question and their level of maturity. The book and…moreMy answer to this is naturally completely subjective. It would depend entirely upon the teenager in question and their level of maturity. The book and its sequels contain violence, sometimes explicit, but never dwelt on in prurient detail. There is some sex (not explicit) and certain dark themes are touched upon, including cannibalism and, in one of the subsequent volumes, an instance of what is probably rape. Having said that, none of these themes seem to have been introduced merely for the author's self-gratification and there are certainly far more explicit titles in the "YA" genre. If I were to assign an MPAA or BBFC rating to this book and its sequels, I would hazard a guess at PG-13. I first read the series in 1985, at the age of 17, and have reread the books every year since, as they are packed with mysteries and symbolism and, more than anything else I have ever read, reward such an approach. Gene Wolfe must have spent years planning them before he began writing. I hope that this response (late though it is) will be of use to you.(less)

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Is this book free?

Mark Boyle No, it is not. At the time of my writing, the Kindle version is being sold on the UK Amazon website at the price of £4.99 sterling.

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