Destined to be a classic - for a select audience: As readers can readily determine from the other reviews posted here, "The Shadow of the Torturer" (indeed Wolfe's entire tetralogy) is not an easy read. He's not a Cussler or Koontz -- he's up there with Melville, Pound, Faulkner, and Pynchon. (Another reviewer mentioned Hesse.)

Anyone looking for a good put-your-brain-in-neutral "beach read" should look elsewhere. Sophisticated readers willing to invest in a slow and thoughtful reading will very much enjoy the many "aha!" moments, and will revel in the subtle and brilliant prose and the numerous plot lines.

These books demand that you to stop and think, go back and re-read on occasion, and really exercise your brain. They're best read a chapter or two at a time, to give you time to puzzle out the metaphors, recognize the "ancient" devices and technology that pass for magic in Severian's world, and digest the many references to classic literature and mythology. Wolfe does not write fiction for the masses - but he amply rewards readers willing and able to meet him at his level.

Shadow of the Torturer is unique in tone and setting. Its not every book that has a torturer for a hero. Severian is just a good civil servant trying to do his job, but he's in over his head and doesn't know it. Urth is similar in scope and feel to Silverberg's Majipoor, but a bit cheerless. A fantasy classic. ( )

Have you ever taken an ocean cruise? You've heard a lot about how much fun they are, so, of course, your expectations are way up there. Your first day is busy, maybe a little confusing as you try to get used to your new environment. Soon, though, the newness wears off and you fall into your old habits. You carefully scan the list of activities on shipboard and you laugh when you notice such things as "classes on napkin folding." After a few days, you find yourself in napkin folding class and saying, "You know, this is really fun!" But you're only three days into a nine day cruise. Finally, you get a chance to get off the boat and take an excursion. You never go back. ( )

On a far future Earth, Severian is an orphan raised by the Guild of Torturers. He falls in love with a prisoner and allows her the mercy of killing herself. For this crime, he is exiled from the main guild and sent off to be the executioner in the small town of Thrax. In this book, Severian begins his journey to Thrax and along the way becomes involved in a duel and joins with a traveling actor's troupe.

I read this whole series about twelve years ago, and when I went to reread the books, I realized that I remembered absolutely nothing about them. After rereading it, I can see why that might be since it is a story that seems more like an intellectual puzzle that something that involves the reader emotionally. The language can be difficult, with many obscure words from English, and others that are made up for the book. The meaning of the words can usually be deduced from the context, but it does pull me out of the story to have to do that translation, and the words do not necessarily provide a clearer description. The book is also quite dense with symbolism. Severian appears to be a kind of Christ-figure. The story is told as his recollections from his future position as Autarch, so we know he becomes a ruler, and probably some kind of savior as well, as there is always talk of bringing the New Sun back to the world. I guess this book can be a rewarding reading experience if you enjoy analyzing every page to try and figure out the puzzles and symbols that Wolfe may have put there, but I found the book to be flat and it did not pull me into the story. ( )

Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun saga kicks off with this excellent first installment.

As usual, Wolfe immerses the reader in a vivid, haunting alternative world -- his ability to mix epic sweep with minutely detailed set pieces that jump off the page and into the imagination is unparalleled.

The star attraction here is, well, the star attraction, i.e. Severian, the young apprentice torturer who's tormented himself by the burden of total recall. Even though this installment takes us only a quarter of the way through this four-part story, Severian's character is already unforgettable.

Highly recommended. ( )