The Shadow of the Torturer
First book in The Book of the New Sun.
Author guide
Gene Wolfe
Born in Texas, Wolfe served in the Korean War, studied at Texas A&M University and the University of Houston, and worked as an engineer and magazine editor before becoming a full-time writer. He published more than 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, won major awards in science fiction and fantasy, and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2012.
science fictionfantasyhorror
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Nightside the Long Sun
First book in The Book of the Long Sun.
On Blue's Waters
First book in The Book of the Short Sun.
Soldier of the Mist
First book in the Latro series.
A Borrowed Man
First book in the Smithe series.
Read in order
Books by series
shared universe · unknown
Solar Cycle
A loosely connected future history linking the New Sun, Long Sun, and Short Sun books.
- 1 The Shadow of the TorturerAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1980
- 2
The Claw of the ConciliatorAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1980
- 3
The Sword of the LictorAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1981
- 4
The Citadel of the AutarchAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel
- 5
The Urth of the New SunAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel
- 6 Nightside the Long SunAmazon ↗
Book 6 · novel · 1993
- 7
Lake of the Long SunAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 1994
- 8
Caldé of the Long SunAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 1994
- 9
Exodus from the Long SunAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 1996
- 10 On Blue's WatersAmazon ↗
Book 10 · novel · 1999
- 11
In Green's JunglesAmazon ↗Book 11 · novel · 2000
- 12
Return to the WhorlAmazon ↗Book 12 · novel · 2001
novel series · complete
The Book of the New Sun
Severian's far-future sequence on the dying world of Urth.
novel series · complete
The Book of the Long Sun
Wolfe's Whorl sequence following Patera Silk aboard a vast generation ship.
novel series · complete
The Book of the Short Sun
Horn's search for Silk across Blue, Green, and the Whorl.
novel series · complete
Latro
A historical fantasy series about a soldier who loses his memory each time he sleeps.
novel series · complete
Smithe
A future series centered on cloned personalities and library mysteries.
- 1
The WizardAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 2004
Outside the series
Standalone and other books
-
Operation AresAmazon ↗novel · 1970
-
PeaceAmazon ↗novel · 1975
-
The Devil In A ForestAmazon ↗novel · 1976
-
Free Live FreeAmazon ↗novel · 1984
-
There Are DoorsAmazon ↗novel · 1988
- The Fifth Head of CerberusAmazon ↗
collection · 1972
- Shadow & ClawAmazon ↗
omnibus · 1994
- The Book of the New SunAmazon ↗
omnibus · 1980
- The Book of the Short SunAmazon ↗
omnibus · 2001
- MemorareAmazon ↗
novella · 2007
-
The Sorcerer's HouseAmazon ↗novel · 2010
-
An Evil GuestAmazon ↗novel · 2008
-
Home FiresAmazon ↗novel · 2011
-
The Land AcrossAmazon ↗novel · 2013
-
Pirate freedomAmazon ↗novel · 2007
- Starwater StrainsAmazon ↗
collection · 2000
- Strange TravelersAmazon ↗
collection · 2000
- Innocents AboardAmazon ↗
collection · 2004
- Storeys from the Old HotelAmazon ↗
collection · 1988
- The Best of Gene WolfeAmazon ↗
collection · 2009
- Castle of DaysAmazon ↗
collection · 1992
-
Endangered SpeciesAmazon ↗novel · 1989
- The Dead Man and Other Horror StoriesAmazon ↗
collection · 2023
- The Wolfe at the DoorAmazon ↗
collection · 2023
- Young WolfeAmazon ↗
collection · 1992
- Gene Wolfe's Book of DaysAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1981
- Letters HomeAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1991
- Plan(e)t EngineeringAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1984
- The Wolfe ArchipelagoAmazon ↗
collection · 1983
- Shadows of the New SunAmazon ↗
nonfiction
- A Walking Tour of the ShamblesAmazon ↗
short_story · 2002
- The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other StoriesAmazon ↗
collection · 1980