That's all extremely true and well put, but I'm mostly referring to the context of the original post referring to the premise, which is still imo quite unusual

Does this apply to BotNS? Severian being a torturer is hardly a cliché or cheesy, and Wolfe actually has the courage and competence to depict him as what he is: deeply deranged due to his upbringing

Unrelated, I am from the quercine penetralia.