The setting is Urth, our planet in the very distant future, a place so old that many of the original meanings of artifacts and customs have been forgotten. Consequently, Urth is a world bound by elaborate ritual and inexplicable tradition, apparently governed by mysticism that is merely archaic science. Within the walled citadel of Nessus, one of the rococo towers which are the remains of ancient rockets provides a home for the young Severian, who endures an education as a neophyte in the Torturers' Guild. Studying the dark discipline of his craft, the ambivalent Severian grows toward an adulthood fraught with peril while promising glory. His eventual betrayal of his duty will take this indolent anti-hero on a quest across his strangely medieval technoplane, see him immersed in the hell of war before ascending to the coveted position of Autarch. Yet Severian has always realized his true significance in the shape of things: even this lofty authority will be surpassed as he reaches his apotheosis, a moment of revelation that will alter Urth forever.

The Shadow of the Torturer is the first volume of The Book of the New Sun series. Initially published in four parts, the story is now available as two omnibuses. This massive novel has been hailed as one of the most important efforts of imaginative literature ever. In scope, symbolism and popularity it has been favorably compared to The Lord of the Rings, Mervyn Peake's monumental and unfinished Gormenghast trilogy and Dune. As these parallels suggest, The Book of the New Sun has quasi-historical and spiritual overtones that have meant some critics have considered it sword and sorcery fantasy. More properly the book is maybe the greatest representative yet of the 'Dying Earth' group of science fantasies, an ambiguous borderland of imaginative literature where science and magic are combined or misinterpreted. Gene Wolfe is undoubtedly one of the most elegant and ambitious authors in the annals of speculative fiction. Readers of baroque fantasy prose stylists will relish his award-winning titles that are equally worthy successor of both Borges and C.S. Lewis.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Custom Reports at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Custom Reports and other relevant topics.