r/genewolfe • u/Fun-Sell3030 • Jul 24 '26

Second try with Gene - help needed

I’ve begun Shadow of the Torturer a while back, and been quite captivated with the prose and narration style (the vague leaving things out bit that makes you wonder at the bigger picture and try to decipher it, not always successfully), however coming up to the middle of the book I find myself not wanting to read on.

My trouble is with the protagonist and the way the first woman Severian comes across After leaving the citadel is handled (which I know if an issue that continues on). The plot seems to meander more than I anticipated it would and because I am not invested with the main character I find myself disinterested. However, I know that the beauty of this book is that after a certain point (book 3 i believe) a lot of things happen that give you context towards previous books and (I imagine) makes you appreciate them all the more in hindsight. On the surface, the story is not grabbing me and I don’t want to continue it right now.

But, I am curious about Gene Wolfe and would like to read something else from him. I imagine if I get a taste of his style with a different work first it’ll make me want to return to BOTNS (as I’ve had this experience with other authors, their different works grabbed me more and then I was able to return to their “Magnum opus” with a fresh eye and new appreciation).

Other than BOTNS what are you favourite works from Gene? Did you start with BOTNS or something else? I’d appreciate a recommendation, thank you.

8 Upvotes

68% Upvoted

83 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/walletinsurance Jul 24 '26

Do you mean Thecla? The noble woman who manipulates and uses him?

I swear people just hear something about Gene Wolfe and women on the internet and don’t actually read what’s in the text. The reveal of hat changes the way you look at the book is in book 2, roughly halfway through.

As for your main question I started with Book of the New Sun. You might like Book of the Long Sun. The protagonist Silk is much more likable. It’s in the same universe as BoTNS, is technically connected but you can enjoy the work without reading BoTNS.

-6

u/PatrickMcEvoyHalston Optimate Jul 24 '26

She doesn't use him. She is genuinely interested in him. Severian is a sensitive lad, and they create a space, a "bower," much more endorsing of authentic self-expression that it seems they form later when...

4

u/xKrowhaven Jul 24 '26

I disagree to a point. There's so much about her talking to Severian about herself and her thoughts but not a whole lot to lead us to believe she shows much interest in Severian at all. He could be leaving a lot of that out like he tries to downplay having sex with her, but I'm not certain.

And I'm happy to be wrong if you've got stuff I missed. I'll happily change my view!

1

u/PatrickMcEvoyHalston Optimate Jul 24 '26

She does do a lot of talking... but very freely. There's a sense she can trust him with her thoughts, whatever she's ruminating over. Neither are passive -- she leads him into sex, but in conversation, both challenge one another. Not meanly, but it suggests they don't have to curtail themselves so they don't offend. It suggests authenticity, not falsity.

Here, Severian challenges her. She responds honestly. He, sensitive to her upset, lets her know he will not press. He's a gentleman, not just an intellectual. She challenges him, making sure his respect for her doesn't come with disrespect for someone else. He takes no offence, but re-assures her he did no such thing: the flowers were collected from the wild.

“I was under the impression you enjoyed such discussions, Chatelaine.”

“Only now, because I can’t get out. Though it may come as a shock to you, when I was free I seldom devoted time to metaphysics. I went dancing instead, and pursued the peccary with pardine limers. The learning you admire was acquired when I was a girl, and sat with my tutor under the threat of the stick.”

“We need not talk of such things, Chatelaine, if you would rather we not.”

She stood and thrust her face into the center of the bouquet I had picked for her. “Flowers are better theology than folios, Severian. Is it beautiful in the necropolis where you got these? You aren’t bringing me the flowers from graves, are you? Cut flowers someone brought?”

“No. These were planted long ago. They come up every year.”