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A review by scheu
Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg
4.0
A well-done novel about a repellent person.
Dying Inside comes off as more of a Stephen King-type SF story than traditional science fiction. It's more humanistic and certainly a product of its time (what with Nixon and LSD being plot elements). It's interesting to see what happens to Selig as his powers diminish, but you will probably not feel any sympathy for him. Contrast him with other characters in the book who have similar abilities and similar unpleasant personalities but at least manage some level of success. Powers don't make you a hero here.
Mostly, I'm bugged by Selig mind-raping people. Forcefully entering someone's mind without consent must qualify as rape. It's something that I probably wouldn't have thought as much about ten years ago ... but the mind's a sacred place even in a world where there are no telepaths. And besides, Selig doesn't show much remorse that isn't coupled with self-pity.
Dying Inside comes off as more of a Stephen King-type SF story than traditional science fiction. It's more humanistic and certainly a product of its time (what with Nixon and LSD being plot elements). It's interesting to see what happens to Selig as his powers diminish, but you will probably not feel any sympathy for him. Contrast him with other characters in the book who have similar abilities and similar unpleasant personalities but at least manage some level of success. Powers don't make you a hero here.
Mostly, I'm bugged by Selig mind-raping people. Forcefully entering someone's mind without consent must qualify as rape. It's something that I probably wouldn't have thought as much about ten years ago ... but the mind's a sacred place even in a world where there are no telepaths. And besides, Selig doesn't show much remorse that isn't coupled with self-pity.