Severian

Severian is the narrator and main character of Gene Wolfe's four-volume novel The Book of the New Sun, as well as its sequel, The Urth of the New Sun. He is a Journeyman of the Guild of Torturers who is exiled after showing mercy to one of his clients. Severian claims to have perfect memory (his eidetic memory is stated as a fact by Gene Wolfe in Shadows of the New Sun). In spite of this, some critics and analysis claim him to be an unreliable na... more

Severian is the narrator and main character of Gene Wolfe's four-volume novel The Book of the New Sun, as well as its sequel, The Urth of the New Sun. He is a Journeyman of the Guild of Torturers who is exiled after showing mercy to one of his clients. Severian claims to have perfect memory (his eidetic memory is stated as a fact by Gene Wolfe in Shadows of the New Sun). In spite of this, some critics and analysis claim him to be an unreliable narrator. At the opening of the novel, Severian saves the life of Vodalus, an outlaw who is fighting to restore Urth to its former glory. As a reward, Vodalus gives Severian a gold coin, which Severian treasures from then on. Severian later learns that the golden coin is fake. Dr Talos hands him a similar coin and tells Severian it is fake; Severian compares the coin to the coin Vodalus gave him, and notices they are the same (pg. 395, Citadel) Throughout the rest of his youth, Severian idolizes Vodalus and seeks to join him. Severian starts the... less