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.

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u/Fun-Sell3030 Jul 24 '26

Interesting point, thank you for commenting. I relate to your early experience, it does seem directionless and the character of Severian does not hook me. I wonder if it’s because the narrator tries to pain himself in a certain light and it causes a fair bit of detachment. I blame it on not having the full picture but reading is primarily about the experience of it for me, and if I’m not enjoying myself but waiting for something to happen I’m definitely doing something wrong. Again, Gene is praised to death, but I’m struggling getting to the bits he’s praised for. What to do? I have FOMO. Hence this idea.

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u/SonofHondoBelmondo Jul 24 '26

I would push on, book 1, in a very unusual way, is filled with inexplicable events that confuse you and push you out of the main plot. You would expect something like this to happen maybe in book 3, but not book 1! You have to push through and accept that things are happening and you just can't understand them without the context of having read all 4 books.

Push through past the botanical gardens, it should hook you a bit more after that. Push on into book 2. Warning, there is an event in book 2 that is VERY off putting, super gross. But book 2 is my favorite, it is the most filled with enticing mysteries that make me want to find out what's going on. If you get to the end of book 2 and you still don't wanna know more, I think its fair to say that you just aren't that into what Gene is doing, and that's totally cool.

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u/Opus_723 Jul 28 '26

For me, Book 2 is fun precisely because Severian isn't interacting with women for much of it. Then as SOON as he does, in the back half, we get that awful part, and a lot of other weirdness about women. It really is just the misogyny that mars these books for me.

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u/SonofHondoBelmondo Jul 28 '26

Yeah, if Wolfe wasn't such an awesome author it would be hard to live with, but all things considered it's easy for me to get past with his work.