TDM: Sixty Years is a LONG Time

[Lindsay]

I get that this was probably cutting edge stuff when it was written, and in some ways I read it the same way as I'd read H. G. Wells or early Heinlein.

We know the solar system doesn't look like that. We know that psychology doesn't work like that. The advances in technology, communications and information access makes the business and social environments look nonsensical, and the gender politics and attitude of acceptance of eugenics should be abhorrent to most 21st century readers.

And I get that. It's been sixty years.

What I don't get is this:

(Spoiler about a relationship between two of the characters in the latter half of the book)

(view spoiler)[The relationship between Barbara and Powell is just disturbing with elements of forced infantilisation and statutory rape (both in terms of the parent/child dynamic and a relationship with someone who is mentally ill for most of it). It's really hard to believe that even 60 years ago that this passed without comment ... yet, Hugo.
(hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Lindsay wrote: "(Spoiler about a relationship between two of the characters in the latter half of the book)"

I have had major issues with this relationship as well. I don't understand its purpose. Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what Bester was trying to say with it. To me it just felt wrong, creepy and ...just really, really wrong.

[Lit Bug]

It is not beyond reproach, but it is a product of its times - conventional and subconsciously patriarchal in nature.

[Mark]

Here we go again