In 1987, Wolfe followed this fourth volume with a coda novel entitled The Urth of the New Sun, after complaints from readers that it ended abruptly and without an adequate sense of conclusion.

Unlike the first books in the series, The Citadel of the Autarch picks up right after the end of the previous one, The Sword of the Lictor.

Outside the church Severian is tasked to visit a friend of the Pelerines in the mountain, to bring him back from the danger of the war to the safety of the camp.

The green man opens a passage through time in which Severian is then visited by an alien who takes the form of Master Malrubius and Triskele.

Malrubius tells him that he must one day face a challenge that will either allow man to return to the stars (if he succeeds) or strip him of his manhood, leaving him infertile, and unable to produce an heir (if he fails).

The book ends with Severian exploring the citadel and retracing Triskele's steps through an underground building.

Dave Langford reviewed The Citadel of the Autarch for White Dwarf #44, and stated that "I think it's extremely good: marvellously written, with a feel for language which Stephen Donaldson would have done well to imitate.

Unlike Donaldson's, Wolfe's obscure words lurk unobtrusively until they seem both familiar and - thanks to their careful planting in context - meaningful.

"[1] Dave Pringle reviewed The Citadel of the Autarch for Imagine magazine, and stated that "The awful suspicion dawns: are the Ascians commies?