I Read Books: Shadow Of The Torturer
The Shadow Of The Torturer In the far future Urth (Earth) Severian is an apprentice torturer, later a journeyman. After an encounter with Vodalus a famous rebel where he saves him he falls in love with Thecla, an Exultant (noble?) prisoner of the guild of torturers. She is put to torture, a machine putting an unbearable thought in her, so he smuggles her a knife to kill herself. Rather than report this or execute Severian and bring dishonour on the guild, the masters decide to exile him, sending him to Thrax, the city of windowless rooms, where they have requested an executioner. Severian leaves the Citadel and heads through the city of Nessus, having a number of strange encounters. He’s told to cover his fulgrim (ultra-black, vanta-black) uniform as it causes panic. Taking shelter in an inn Dr Talos, a travelling actor and playwright, tries to recruit him. Going to buy a mantle to cover his clothes the owner offers to buy his sword Terminus Est which he refuses. He’s then ...
