Scan barcode
dolma33's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Hate crime, Violence, and Sexual assault
dee9401's review against another edition
4.0
A fast read that covers a wide swath of emotional and philosophical topics. I really loved the interplay between the main characters, the politics developed over person and personality. It remains valid reading in today's world of 2022.
isaexcel's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
raxus's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
justinsdrown's review against another edition
3.0
I want to love Tower of Glass. Robert Silverberg is frequently compared to Philip K. Dick. I consider that high praise. I've read two books from Silverberg and neither has clicked. This book is exceptionally written. The author clearly a master of his craft. Tower of Glass on it's surface is a novel about androids. Released two years after Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the two share plenty in common. Released in 1970, concerned with racial climate at the time, Silverberg's androids serve as a metaphor for slaves and slavery.
The problem here is that Tower of Glass lacks any subtlety. No, it's layed on thick. Conversations where characters stop and directly bring up black slavery. It borders on fourth wall breaking. As if Silverberg is grabbing the reader by the collar and shouting, "Look! Don't you get it? The androids are like pre-emancipation black people!"
This is an obvious book. Built off an obvious metaphor. Written by an author with great talent.
The problem here is that Tower of Glass lacks any subtlety. No, it's layed on thick. Conversations where characters stop and directly bring up black slavery. It borders on fourth wall breaking. As if Silverberg is grabbing the reader by the collar and shouting, "Look! Don't you get it? The androids are like pre-emancipation black people!"
This is an obvious book. Built off an obvious metaphor. Written by an author with great talent.
neartaking's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
fbarros's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The story begins with the premise that a huge glass tower is needed to communicate with an extraterrestrial civilization.
Simon Krug, the man behind the endeavour, has created humanoids to achieve the task.
This book brilliantly approaches relevant themes such as purpose, divinity, slavery and what it means to be human as a whole.
I found, however, that the story could have had half its size without loosing anything meaningful. The story was so slow and so many unimportant characters were introduced that I found myself skimming through some pages.
Simon Krug, the man behind the endeavour, has created humanoids to achieve the task.
This book brilliantly approaches relevant themes such as purpose, divinity, slavery and what it means to be human as a whole.
I found, however, that the story could have had half its size without loosing anything meaningful. The story was so slow and so many unimportant characters were introduced that I found myself skimming through some pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Sexism
marhill31's review against another edition
3.0
I’m continuing my summer reading of Robert Silverberg novels from the most prolific period of his career, 1967-1976. I reviewed A Time of Changes previously and now it’s time for Tower of Glass.
Simeon Krug, inventor and entrepreneur, is obsessed in getting a tower of glass built toward a star where he can communicate with outer space. The entrepreneur uses androids that he created to build this tower. The androids revere Krug and see him as their God.
However, the androids have an agenda of their own and are determined to be treated as human. Their subplot reveals several surprising twists as it gets closer to the completion of the tower. I must admit I found their plight for being treated just like humans more compelling than Krug’s obsession with the tower.
Tower of Glass did not read as smoothly for me like A Time of Changes. It took me awhile to get into the story. Nevertheless, Silverberg is fine storyteller and shows how a novel full of ideas can be written inside of two hundred pages.
Silverberg combines science-fictional concepts, philosophical ideas, and Biblical allusions to create a thought-provoking novel about the role of a creator in relationship to their creation. Tower of Glass deserves the reputation it has received since its publication in 1970 and affirms Robert Silverberg’s status as one of the Grandmasters of Science Fiction.
Simeon Krug, inventor and entrepreneur, is obsessed in getting a tower of glass built toward a star where he can communicate with outer space. The entrepreneur uses androids that he created to build this tower. The androids revere Krug and see him as their God.
However, the androids have an agenda of their own and are determined to be treated as human. Their subplot reveals several surprising twists as it gets closer to the completion of the tower. I must admit I found their plight for being treated just like humans more compelling than Krug’s obsession with the tower.
Tower of Glass did not read as smoothly for me like A Time of Changes. It took me awhile to get into the story. Nevertheless, Silverberg is fine storyteller and shows how a novel full of ideas can be written inside of two hundred pages.
Silverberg combines science-fictional concepts, philosophical ideas, and Biblical allusions to create a thought-provoking novel about the role of a creator in relationship to their creation. Tower of Glass deserves the reputation it has received since its publication in 1970 and affirms Robert Silverberg’s status as one of the Grandmasters of Science Fiction.
athenalindia's review
3.0
I've made my position on how or whether authors and what you know of them belong in a review perfectly clear, on Goodreads, and copied here on this blog. It's a point people still try to argue on the Goodreads version, although I gave up responding a long time ago - I think through that and a bunch of responses, I've done my part to explain clearly, why I do think that it is perfectly acceptable, even necessary, to bring what you know of an author into a review, at least the kind of reviews that I write.
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
More...