sonja@genie.UUCP (Sonja Bock) (07/08/85)
Tom O'Bedlam
Robert Silverberg
Donald I. Fine, Inc. 1985
One of the first words that comes to mind in describing Silverberg's writing is
'haunting'. This book is a classic example.
The real force of this book is the way the reader is asked to participate, with
the characters, in belief. The books follows all of the main characters through
the unraveling of their own world through the intervention of many others.
If the evidence of our own senses and emotions, and even our technology is to be
believed, mankind is not only not alone, but is invited to share in a varied and
ecstatically beautiful universe. The phenomenon is real, but is it really
demi-gods from distant stars we see, or the phantasies projected by a seemingly
benign telepathic mutant.
The prose is beautiful, the characters are involving. Certainly as good as any
Silverberg so far.