Dying Inside in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Feb 16, 2009 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: multiple-award-nominee, locus-all-time-science-fiction-poll, 1970-1979, minders, darker-than-you-think, award-nominee-hugo, award-nominee-nebula, award-winner-campbell, award-nominee-locus, science-fiction

4.5 to 5.0 stars. Robert Silverberg is one of those writers that has never disappointed me and Dying Inside is no exception. This is often considered Silverberg's best novel and, while not my personal favorite of his, it is easy to see why.

The story is told in the first person by a telepath, David Selig, who is slowly losing his ability to read minds. David, despite his ability to read minds, is almost completely isolated from the rest of society and is unable to form any close attachments. He ...more

28 likes · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Peter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction, sciencefiction

Although Silverberg is normally a science fiction writer, and the main character in the book has a "super power" this didn't feel at all like science fiction. The book uses the main character, David's, gradual loss of his telepathic powers as a metaphor for growing old as well as for the loss of a talent (particularly artistic talent). The gradual loss of focus and passion for what David was previously focused on and passionate about resonated with me a lot. I've often noticed that the excitemen ...more

Like · see review

Aug 23, 2008 Alice Lee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, favorites

I wish I could give a 9 out of 10 rating. It's just short of 5 stars, but I feel as if giving it less than 5, at least on this website, might do it injustice in such a way that someone who is teetering on the brink of reading this book might imagine it isn't the breathtakingly beautiful piece of work that it is.

This being my second Silverberg novel, I can't help but compare it to my first, The Book of Skulls. The writing and style are almost identical; he slips from one narrative technique to an I wish I could give a 9 out of 10 rating. It's just short of 5 stars, but I feel as if giving it less than 5, at least on this website, might do it injustice in such a way that someone who is teetering on the brink of reading this book might imagine it isn't the breathtakingly beautiful piece of work that it is.

This being my second Silverberg novel, I can't help but compare it to my first, The Book of Skulls. The writing and style are almost identical; he slips from one narrative technique to another seamlessly, fluidly, and the reader is treated to several perspectives, tones, hues of the same subject. He uses words like they are notes of music. I often think to myself, this isn't science fiction. Yet Silverberg is categorized unmistakably as a science fiction writer. Yes, the subject matter may be paranormal, but the book itself doesn't feel scifi-ish.

I'm not a veteran of this genre, sadly. I love science fiction, I spent my childhood reading science fiction novels in another language, in a culture where scifi is an impoverished genre scoffed at by anyone who deems themselves literate. I remember my mom telling me not to tell family friends that I read "science fiction" because it's all a bunch of nonsense. My point being, the culture of scifi here in America isn't something I grew up with, but instead something I'm trying to familiarize with now. I've read a few major works by a few major authors, but most scifi names remain unfamiliar to me (for now).

So when I read Silverberg, and I keep instinctively thinking, this isn't scifi, I can't help but wonder, what is my idea of science fiction? A couple of years ago, before we moved to Oregon, Aaron uncovered a box of old science fiction short story magazines. I read through them, sometimes enthusiastically, most of the time because I was bored. I disliked more stories than I found remotely tolerable, but I still enjoyed reading these short stories. I realized it's because, to me, science fiction stories are all about the exploration of ideas. What if this, then what? These scenarios are often depressing, and I loved it.

But another characteristic that I've begun to associate with science fiction is awkward writing, and one-dimensional characters. The idea the author wanted to explore was the center piece, and everything else - literary style, characters, dialogue, exposition - were just props, hastily glued together to showcase an idea.

With what I've read of Silverberg, it seems the other way around. The paranormal element was there as a background, for character study, for eloquent penmanship. For beauty and art, rather than just to tell others "hey, look what I thought of!"

I'm not saying he's the best writer I've come across, obviously. I'm saying, however, he has crafted an extraordinarily poignant, touching, and often-depressing piece of work. Read it, savor it. I'll be looking for the book he published after this one. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 12, 2009 Frank Taranto rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

One of the greatest books ever written. This is Silverberg's masterpiece. An in depth character study of a man losing his telepathic power.
Silverberg brings us inside David Selig's mind and we ride along with him as his power wanes and finally disappears altogether. It is an uncomfortable and unsettling ride which makes me look at my inner self as I follow Selig's introspection.
...more

Like · see review