
The Shadow of the Torturer
The Book of the New Sun, Book 1
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $30.13
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jonathan Davis
-
Written by:
-
Gene Wolfe
About this listen
You may also enjoy...
-
Elric of Melniboné
- Volume 1: Elric of Melnibone, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf
- Written by: Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman - Foreword
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 24 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the twentieth century: the story of Elric, emperor of the dying kingdom of Melniboné. For a hundred centuries the Melnibonéans have ruled from the Dragon Isle of Imrryr. Now, after years of corruption and decadence, Elric’s amoral cousin Prince Yyrkoon, the brother of his beloved Cymoril, sets his eyes on the Ruby Throne. Elric must face his treacherous cousin not as a warrior but as a sorcerer king once again in league with the ancient gods of Melniboné, the Chaos Lords, and thus sealing his inexorable fate.
-
-
A must for Moorcock fans
- By Johannes VanWeeghel on 2022-06-26
Written by: Michael Moorcock, and others
-
The Darkness That Comes Before
- The Prince of Nothing, Book One
- Written by: R. Scott Bakker
- Narrated by: David DeVries
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both 2,000 years past and 2,000 years into the future, untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus - part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence - from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.
-
-
confusing greatness
- By John Hickey on 2019-08-20
Written by: R. Scott Bakker
-
The Crown Tower
- The Riyria Chronicles, Book 1
- Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for, is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Hired by an old wizard, they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most prized possessions. But it isn’t gold or jewels that the wizard is after, and if he can just keep them from killing each other, they just might succeed.
-
-
Ended Too Soon
- By Vera on 2019-06-26
Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
-
Hyperion
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.
-
-
Simmons is a complete hack
- By FuzzyThoughts on 2021-04-14
Written by: Dan Simmons
-
A Wizard of Earthsea
- The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1
- Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
- Narrated by: Rob Inglis
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Sparrowhawk casts a spell that saves his village from destruction at the hands of the invading Kargs, Ogion, the Mage of Re Albi, encourages the boy to apprentice himself in the art of wizardry. So, at the age of 13, the boy receives his true name - Ged - and gives himself over to the gentle tutelage of the Master Ogion. But impatient with the slowness of his studies and infatuated with glory, Ged embarks for the Island of Roke, where the highest arts of wizardry are taught.
-
-
Wish there had been more
- By girorv on 2019-04-06
Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
-
Anathem
- Written by: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, and others
- Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fraa Erasmus is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the "Saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities, and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs, bloody violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community.
-
-
Only for elite hard sci fi lovers
- By Robert on 2018-04-21
Written by: Neal Stephenson
-
Elric of Melniboné
- Volume 1: Elric of Melnibone, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf
- Written by: Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman - Foreword
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 24 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the twentieth century: the story of Elric, emperor of the dying kingdom of Melniboné. For a hundred centuries the Melnibonéans have ruled from the Dragon Isle of Imrryr. Now, after years of corruption and decadence, Elric’s amoral cousin Prince Yyrkoon, the brother of his beloved Cymoril, sets his eyes on the Ruby Throne. Elric must face his treacherous cousin not as a warrior but as a sorcerer king once again in league with the ancient gods of Melniboné, the Chaos Lords, and thus sealing his inexorable fate.
-
-
A must for Moorcock fans
- By Johannes VanWeeghel on 2022-06-26
Written by: Michael Moorcock, and others
-
The Darkness That Comes Before
- The Prince of Nothing, Book One
- Written by: R. Scott Bakker
- Narrated by: David DeVries
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both 2,000 years past and 2,000 years into the future, untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus - part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence - from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.
-
-
confusing greatness
- By John Hickey on 2019-08-20
Written by: R. Scott Bakker
-
The Crown Tower
- The Riyria Chronicles, Book 1
- Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for, is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Hired by an old wizard, they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most prized possessions. But it isn’t gold or jewels that the wizard is after, and if he can just keep them from killing each other, they just might succeed.
-
-
Ended Too Soon
- By Vera on 2019-06-26
Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
-
Hyperion
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.
-
-
Simmons is a complete hack
- By FuzzyThoughts on 2021-04-14
Written by: Dan Simmons
-
A Wizard of Earthsea
- The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1
- Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
- Narrated by: Rob Inglis
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Sparrowhawk casts a spell that saves his village from destruction at the hands of the invading Kargs, Ogion, the Mage of Re Albi, encourages the boy to apprentice himself in the art of wizardry. So, at the age of 13, the boy receives his true name - Ged - and gives himself over to the gentle tutelage of the Master Ogion. But impatient with the slowness of his studies and infatuated with glory, Ged embarks for the Island of Roke, where the highest arts of wizardry are taught.
-
-
Wish there had been more
- By girorv on 2019-04-06
Written by: Ursula K. Le Guin
-
Anathem
- Written by: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, and others
- Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fraa Erasmus is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the "Saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities, and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs, bloody violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community.
-
-
Only for elite hard sci fi lovers
- By Robert on 2018-04-21
Written by: Neal Stephenson
-
Homeland
- Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1
- Written by: R. A. Salvatore
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.
-
-
Amazing all around
- By Rebecca on 2018-12-17
Written by: R. A. Salvatore
-
The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
- A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
- Written by: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imagine you could travel back to the 14th century. What would you see? What would you smell? More to the point, where are you going to stay? And what are you going to eat? Ian Mortimer shows us that the past is not just something to be studied; it is also something to be lived. He sets out to explain what life was like in the most immediate way, through taking you to the Middle Ages. The result is the most astonishing social history book you are ever likely to read: evolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining in its detail.
-
-
With ease didst i survive thanks to thy most excellent guide!
- By Liam on 2020-12-03
Written by: Ian Mortimer
-
The Black Company
- Chronicles of The Black Company, Book 1
- Written by: Glen Cook
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hardbitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead - until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her....
-
-
'Adequate' Dark Military Fantasy - With A Twist
- By Langer MD on 2021-07-05
Written by: Glen Cook
-
Flowers for Algernon
- Written by: Daniel Keyes
- Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlie Gordon knows that he isn't very bright. At 32, he mops floors in a bakery and earns just enough to get by. Three evenings a week, he studies at a center for mentally challenged adults. But all of this is about to change for Charlie. As part of a daring experiment, doctors are going to perform surgery on Charlie's brain. They hope the operation and special medication will increase his intelligence, just as it has for the laboratory mouse, Algernon.
-
-
Great read
- By brandie on 2021-07-29
Written by: Daniel Keyes
-
The Dying Earth
- Tales of the Dying Earth, Book 1
- Written by: Jack Vance
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The stories in The Dying Earth introduce dozens of seekers of wisom and beauty, lovely lost women, wizards of every shade of eccentricity with their runic amulets and spells. We meet the melancholy deodands, who feed on human flesh and the twk-men, who ride dragonflies and trade information for salt. There are monsters and demons. Each being is morally ambiguous: The evil are charming, the good are dangerous. All are at home.
-
-
The Bones of Modern Fantasy
- By Anonymous User on 2022-10-06
Written by: Jack Vance
-
House of Suns
- Written by: Alastair Reynolds
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six million years ago, at the very dawn of the starfaring era, Abigail Gentian fractured herself into a thousand male and female clones: the shatterlings. Sent out into the galaxy, these shatterlings have stood aloof as they document the rise and fall of countless human empires. They meet every 200,000 years to exchange news and memories of their travels with their siblings.
-
-
Not horrible
- By Chris on 2024-12-22
Written by: Alastair Reynolds
What the critics say
- World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1981
- Favorite Audiobooks of 2010 (Fantasy Literature)
What listeners say about The Shadow of the Torturer
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- scott travers
- 2022-11-12
excellent story, well told
I read this novel back in the late 80s and thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering it in this audiobook. The narration was excellent although perhaps a little too soft spoken at times but it fit the character well. I did find it a little difficult to understand some times on a proper speaker, easier on the tinny phone speaker. I enjoyed the language and the slow but thoughtful progression of the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Liam
- 2021-02-14
My new favorite book series
I had never heard of these books prior to reading them. I had been recommended them because I wanted a story similar in tone to the Dark Souls video games. I can now easily say this tetrology is my new favorite book series. It isn't an easy story to digest, the writing style is very dense and prose-heavy, and the events that occur are not presented in a linear or reliable fashion.
This is the kind of book you can (and almost need to) revisit multiple times and glean new meaning or information from every time. There is so much symbolism, allusion and hidden meaning in every portion of the story. Sometimes these bits of meaning only become clear after hearing the story already, the books are almost meant to be studied like a myth or religious tract.
If you are a fan of obscure, gothic atmosphere and strange, alien worlds and cultures, you'll enjoy these books.
The narration is a big part of why I enjoyed the books, Jonathan Davis is clearly a fan of the stories and is extremely consistent with character voices, names and pronunciations. He has a quiet, calming voice that lulls you into immersion within the story. I have read the physical books since listening to the audiobooks and while I still enjoyed them, the audiobook is something else.
Needless to say I highly recommend these books, though as I said before, they require a certain amount of commitment and faith from the reader. These books are all about delayed gratification and establishing an atmosphere.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CW
- 2023-07-28
Great book. Narration was lacking.
This is an amazing series, but I found the Audible narration frustrating. General the narrator did a fine job when he was describing the environments and such. However far too often, the narrator started speaking soft to a whisper. Frankly, there are very few places in the book where it seems appropriate and took me out of the story. Some parts I had to rewind and turn up the volume because I couldn't hear what was being said.
Another issue I had in a few places was understanding who was speaking when the narrator didn't change character voice when another was speaking... especially when the same voice was used for female and male characters who were talking with each other.
Like I said great book and great series but compared with older audio versions, I found it less enjoyable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shea M.
- 2023-09-19
The greatest work of Science Fiction in history
The beginning to what is quite simply the greatest science fiction series, possible the greatest work of fiction period. Jaw dropping, enrapturing, inspiring, deep and rewarding perfection.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alison Hain
- 2023-10-31
Solid and imperfect
Johnathan Davis is an excellent narrator as always. The story meanders a fair bit, world is rich enough to keep me engaged despite a general lack of tension. Definitely the kind of book that sets up the world and expects you to keep going. I just might.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shesophist
- 2020-01-27
Thick with meaning but hard to follow
Jonathan Davis did great with the narration. I had trouble following the story, or the point of the story, but the prose was beautiful.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul
- 2021-02-16
Too much wordy, indecipherable fantasy narrative.
I could never get into this audiobook. it was never clear where the story was going. I prefer harder sci-fi to this fantasy stuff. I gave up about halfway through.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!