moirwyn's review against another edition
3.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2015/02/10/dying-inside-by-robert-silverberg/
I began reading Robert Silverberg’s Dying Inside for Vintage Sci-Fi Month. Clearly since it’s midway through February I’m running a bit behind, but such is life.
Dying Inside is the story of a telepath named David Selig. The story is set in our own world in the late 60s/early 70s, contemporary to when the novel was written. Selig’s telepathy alienated him from his peers and made him feel like an outsider. It’s been his burden, his curse, his downfall for his entire life. Now, as Selig ages, he finds that he is losing his “gift,” which has been so entwined with his feelings of identity that it brings on an existential crisis.
Selig is a hard character to relate to simply because he is so incredibly depressed. He’s crushed by feelings of guilt from spying on everyone around him (and before you think that telepathy might be cool, picture a 9-year-old kid knowing every gritty detail of what his parents are doing in the other room after they send him to bed at night), and he feels like he can’t have normal relationships with anybody. Rather than using his gift to try to become close to people or form meaningful relationships, he cuts himself off from the world, making a piteous living by writing term papers for college students. To me, the most telling part of the novel was when Selig tried (and failed) to write a paper for a black student. It became so clear at that moment that even though he’s a telepath and can read what other people are thinking, Selig can’t understand the human condition on a fundamental level. He’s so wrong about him that it’s just baffling.
As a contrast, Selig encounters another man who is also a telepath, but who seems like a pretty normal person. Nyquist works on Wall Street and uses his telepathy to make opportune trades. He’s great with women. He’s happy, optimistic, and well-adjusted, using his power to make his life better rather than feeling like a victim. Nyquist and Selig are polar opposites, but united by a common experience, and it seems obvious that it isn’t the power that’s reduced Selig to his current circumstance, but his fear of his own humanity.
Overall, a fascinating read, although not entirely pleasant. I think perhaps my favorite parts are the essays that Selig writes that are interspersed throughout his narration. They bring back memories (also not entirely pleasant) of my own college evenings spent analyzing Kafka’s themes of alienation and isolation. Entirely appropriate subject matter for Selig.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2015/02/10/dying-inside-by-robert-silverberg/
I began reading Robert Silverberg’s Dying Inside for Vintage Sci-Fi Month. Clearly since it’s midway through February I’m running a bit behind, but such is life.
Dying Inside is the story of a telepath named David Selig. The story is set in our own world in the late 60s/early 70s, contemporary to when the novel was written. Selig’s telepathy alienated him from his peers and made him feel like an outsider. It’s been his burden, his curse, his downfall for his entire life. Now, as Selig ages, he finds that he is losing his “gift,” which has been so entwined with his feelings of identity that it brings on an existential crisis.
Selig is a hard character to relate to simply because he is so incredibly depressed. He’s crushed by feelings of guilt from spying on everyone around him (and before you think that telepathy might be cool, picture a 9-year-old kid knowing every gritty detail of what his parents are doing in the other room after they send him to bed at night), and he feels like he can’t have normal relationships with anybody. Rather than using his gift to try to become close to people or form meaningful relationships, he cuts himself off from the world, making a piteous living by writing term papers for college students. To me, the most telling part of the novel was when Selig tried (and failed) to write a paper for a black student. It became so clear at that moment that even though he’s a telepath and can read what other people are thinking, Selig can’t understand the human condition on a fundamental level. He’s so wrong about him that it’s just baffling.
As a contrast, Selig encounters another man who is also a telepath, but who seems like a pretty normal person. Nyquist works on Wall Street and uses his telepathy to make opportune trades. He’s great with women. He’s happy, optimistic, and well-adjusted, using his power to make his life better rather than feeling like a victim. Nyquist and Selig are polar opposites, but united by a common experience, and it seems obvious that it isn’t the power that’s reduced Selig to his current circumstance, but his fear of his own humanity.
Overall, a fascinating read, although not entirely pleasant. I think perhaps my favorite parts are the essays that Selig writes that are interspersed throughout his narration. They bring back memories (also not entirely pleasant) of my own college evenings spent analyzing Kafka’s themes of alienation and isolation. Entirely appropriate subject matter for Selig.
getoffmyface's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mizar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blackaliss's review against another edition
3.0
Silverberg appears to be a very worthwhile author. This was an excellent character study and exploration of the telepathy conceit, rolled into one. David Selig is one of those unlikeable, but very entertaining, but ultimately-likeable-actually protagonists, just because he's realistically human. The book reads as a memoir of his fight with his special gift, that he's fated to lose. He screams and whines and rages all the way through, with bouts of melodrama and occasional surprising lucidity. The vivid backdrop of late 50s to early 70s creates an unintentional, but very welcome period piece.
adele_atm2468's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
avalon111's review against another edition
5.0
The best fiction books are the ones with a compelling concept. And the very best of those are the ones with a concept that can be rendered down to just one sentence. For Dying Inside that concept is What if you were a telepath, and you were losing your powers?
There, nice-and-simple. And Silverberg takes that simple idea and turns it into a compelling story, with, at its core, a compelling character.
Because that character, David Selig, is no superman. Which is what you'd expect if you were a telepath. How could you fail? Think what you could do, legally-or-otherwise, if you were a telepath?
Except Selig has squandered his gift, failed utterly to enhance his position, even though his ability dominates his life. Indeed his life is a car-crash of failed relationships, hopeless - or rather, non-existent - career choices, and lacks direction, intent, let alone any real recognition that he's progressed beyond his student days.
Set in the mid-1970s, just a few years after initial publication, Dying Inside covers the 1950s beatnik generation, the early 60's and frantic late 60's, which Selig is detached utterly from, alone-and-adrift in a world that has moved on, whilst he is trapped in amber, his ability gradually fading.
The story is told with Silverberg's adroit skill. Being of its time there's lots of sex (perhaps a bit too much for modern readers) and a comprehension of contemporary history is required. The investment though is worth it.
There, nice-and-simple. And Silverberg takes that simple idea and turns it into a compelling story, with, at its core, a compelling character.
Because that character, David Selig, is no superman. Which is what you'd expect if you were a telepath. How could you fail? Think what you could do, legally-or-otherwise, if you were a telepath?
Except Selig has squandered his gift, failed utterly to enhance his position, even though his ability dominates his life. Indeed his life is a car-crash of failed relationships, hopeless - or rather, non-existent - career choices, and lacks direction, intent, let alone any real recognition that he's progressed beyond his student days.
Set in the mid-1970s, just a few years after initial publication, Dying Inside covers the 1950s beatnik generation, the early 60's and frantic late 60's, which Selig is detached utterly from, alone-and-adrift in a world that has moved on, whilst he is trapped in amber, his ability gradually fading.
The story is told with Silverberg's adroit skill. Being of its time there's lots of sex (perhaps a bit too much for modern readers) and a comprehension of contemporary history is required. The investment though is worth it.
m_gaux's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
justinsdrown's review against another edition
3.0
Dying inside reminds me of Philip Roth. The book is sort of Portnoy's Complaint with mind reading. But nearly as bold. I can’t say I enjoyed Dying Inside. Though I didn't hate it. Silverberg has a command over the English language that feels effortless.
I grew tired of the protaginist David. He's intended to be unlikable. I get it. I do. But I didn't enjoy him even in a literary sense. The racial stuff comes on strong. Even dated. It's tough to know how much of that is David vs the author. Same goes with the sexism. I'll give Silverberg the benefit of the doubt. I think these were literary themes he was tackling.
Overall, it felt like a less daring Portnoy's Complaint and stripped of the humor that kept me invested in that particular book. Bringing mind reading to the table didn't add much. I find that a wasted opportunity. People have a lot to hide. There's a lot to explore here. But the book rarely does. Dying Inside seemed content with keeping mind reading as a metaphor for impotence.
I grew tired of the protaginist David. He's intended to be unlikable. I get it. I do. But I didn't enjoy him even in a literary sense. The racial stuff comes on strong. Even dated. It's tough to know how much of that is David vs the author. Same goes with the sexism. I'll give Silverberg the benefit of the doubt. I think these were literary themes he was tackling.
Overall, it felt like a less daring Portnoy's Complaint and stripped of the humor that kept me invested in that particular book. Bringing mind reading to the table didn't add much. I find that a wasted opportunity. People have a lot to hide. There's a lot to explore here. But the book rarely does. Dying Inside seemed content with keeping mind reading as a metaphor for impotence.