Gene Wolfe Broke My Brain | Shadow & Claw Read-Along, Episode 2
Page Chewing · Nov 14, 2026 · 19:31
Page Chewing · Nov 14, 2026 · 19:31
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I may have spoken too soon when I said Gene Wolfe's The Shadow of the Torturer wasn't particularly difficult to follow.
This week, we're finishing the first novel in our November Shadow & Claw read-along, covering Chapters 17–35. And things have gotten considerably stranger.
From the Botanic Gardens and mysterious mirrors to Severian's increasingly questionable behavior, we're exploring the events, characters, and unanswered questions that make Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun such a fascinating reading experience.
We discuss Severian's reliability as a narrator, his encounters with Agia and Agilus, the strange science fiction elements emerging throughout the story, and the mysteries surrounding Dorcas, Thecla, and the world itself.
This is a first time, spoiler conscious read-along, so join us as we work through the mysteries together.
Next week: The Claw of the Conciliator, Chapters 1–15.
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