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esko's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This is a Masterpiece! Amazing read!
It was dark,funny,creative and most importantly immersive from start to finish!
Great writing,and amazing storytelling! A page turner for sure.
It was dark,funny,creative and most importantly immersive from start to finish!
Great writing,and amazing storytelling! A page turner for sure.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one a good bit and a good bit more than The Book of Skulls. The only science fiction trope in this novel deals with telepathy, and it still just haphazardly dips into weird sexual sidebars here and there, but overall it was an entertaining read.
jsdrown's review against another edition
3.0
Dying inside reminds me of Philip Roth. The book is sort of Portnoy's Complaint with mind reading. But nearly as bold. I can’t say I enjoyed Dying Inside. Though I didn't hate it. Silverberg has a command over the English language that feels effortless.
I grew tired of the protaginist David. He's intended to be unlikable. I get it. I do. But I didn't enjoy him even in a literary sense. The racial stuff comes on strong. Even dated. It's tough to know how much of that is David vs the author. Same goes with the sexism. I'll give Silverberg the benefit of the doubt. I think these were literary themes he was tackling.
Overall, it felt like a less daring Portnoy's Complaint and stripped of the humor that kept me invested in that particular book. Bringing mind reading to the table didn't add much. I find that a wasted opportunity. People have a lot to hide. There's a lot to explore here. But the book rarely does. Dying Inside seemed content with keeping mind reading as a metaphor for impotence.
I grew tired of the protaginist David. He's intended to be unlikable. I get it. I do. But I didn't enjoy him even in a literary sense. The racial stuff comes on strong. Even dated. It's tough to know how much of that is David vs the author. Same goes with the sexism. I'll give Silverberg the benefit of the doubt. I think these were literary themes he was tackling.
Overall, it felt like a less daring Portnoy's Complaint and stripped of the humor that kept me invested in that particular book. Bringing mind reading to the table didn't add much. I find that a wasted opportunity. People have a lot to hide. There's a lot to explore here. But the book rarely does. Dying Inside seemed content with keeping mind reading as a metaphor for impotence.
rodrigo_negrini's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kreppen's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
badseedgirl's review against another edition
2.0
Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg is the story of David Selig. Born in 1935 with the ability to read minds, David has used this skill to eke out a living. But as the novel starts the year is 1976, and Selig’s is losing his ability to read minds. Now I have made it no secret that I have read very few “classic” or “master” science fiction novels in the past. Part of the reason why is a story like Dying Inside. I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why it is considered Sci-Fi; but it most assuredly is. Written in 1972, it was nominated for a Nebula, a Hugo, and a Locus. It is also listed on SF Masterworks, Locus Best SF Novels of All Time, The Classics of Science Fiction, Easton Press Masterpieces of Science Fiction, and is number 107 on Worldswithoutends.com Top Listed Books of All Time. So clearly this novel has a science fiction pedigree.
As for the story itself, it transitions from flashbacks of David’s childhood and young adulthood to current day, as I said; in this case current day is 1976. Using the flashbacks the reader is able to see that Selig squandered his ability to read minds. David had the ability to read minds, but still seemed unable to use this skill to connect with humanity, so he spends the entire novel desperately trying to make true connections with people, but also looking upon others as less than he was especially his lover Toni.
With Dying Inside, Robert Silverberg wrote a very internal novel. There is very little action physically. I kept waiting for something to happen in the novel, something a little “sci-fiey.” But it just was not that type of novel. Fortunately it was a short novel so I was able to slog through. I found all the characters to be a tedious combination of shallowness and boredom. I do believe there is a place for novels about internal struggle of man against his nature, but I just don’t think of those as science fiction. I guess I am just not cultured or sophisticated enough to find this novel interesting.
As for the story itself, it transitions from flashbacks of David’s childhood and young adulthood to current day, as I said; in this case current day is 1976. Using the flashbacks the reader is able to see that Selig squandered his ability to read minds. David had the ability to read minds, but still seemed unable to use this skill to connect with humanity, so he spends the entire novel desperately trying to make true connections with people, but also looking upon others as less than he was especially his lover Toni.
With Dying Inside, Robert Silverberg wrote a very internal novel. There is very little action physically. I kept waiting for something to happen in the novel, something a little “sci-fiey.” But it just was not that type of novel. Fortunately it was a short novel so I was able to slog through. I found all the characters to be a tedious combination of shallowness and boredom. I do believe there is a place for novels about internal struggle of man against his nature, but I just don’t think of those as science fiction. I guess I am just not cultured or sophisticated enough to find this novel interesting.
zmull's review against another edition
4.0
If a different author had written Dying Inside, someone not associated with science fiction, the book probably would have been marketed as literary fiction. That's what it is, really. The main character is man who's had the gift of telepathy his whole life, but now in his mid-40s its beginning to fade. It's not hard to see the metaphor here. The novel was released in 1972 and set a few years in the future, so it's essentially a contemporary 1972 novel. Like many novels written by middle-aged men in the 70s its main features are malaise, an obsession with sex, and casual racism. If you can handle that, the novel is pretty good. Silverberg is fine writer stretching his muscles here. It's been suggested that this is his masterpiece. Well, maybe. It certainly hasn't aged very well.
billymac1962's review against another edition
4.0
It's sad that Science Fiction as a genre isn't taken seriously as important
literature. If it was, then Dying Inside would certainly have gotten more
widespread attention or even considered for prestigious literary awards.
As it stands, I never would have heard of it if not for Goodreads.
I'm not giving this 5 stars, only because there were a couple of parts of
the story I could have done without, like our hero's term paper writings. Sorry,
strike one for a yawn or two.
But this is a special story. It's the tale of David, who, from a young age, has been able to read minds. As he reaches mid-adulthood, his powers are
dwindling. Most of his life has been enjoyed vicariously through others, and as a voyeur, knowing everyone's dirty little secrets, or, at times approaching ecstacy when he can drill down to another's true essence, their soul.
The story mostly takes place during the free love and drug culture (I believe Silverberg's knowledge here)of the 60s, flashing back to these relatively happier times when his talent allowed for easy social interaction.
As his talent (or his curse, as he has often considered it) wanes, he finds
his self is also fading. How can he cope with the impending wall of solitude
once all the voices stop?
With Dying Inside, Silverberg touches on what it is to be human by following a superhuman's slide to normalcy. It's quite thought provoking, and the attitudes
of the 60s are captured very well (I guess that's no great stretch, it was
written in 1971, after all).
The Book of Skulls was a favorite of mine, and this one was also quite impressive.
I definitely will read more of him!
literature. If it was, then Dying Inside would certainly have gotten more
widespread attention or even considered for prestigious literary awards.
As it stands, I never would have heard of it if not for Goodreads.
I'm not giving this 5 stars, only because there were a couple of parts of
the story I could have done without, like our hero's term paper writings. Sorry,
strike one for a yawn or two.
But this is a special story. It's the tale of David, who, from a young age, has been able to read minds. As he reaches mid-adulthood, his powers are
dwindling. Most of his life has been enjoyed vicariously through others, and as a voyeur, knowing everyone's dirty little secrets, or, at times approaching ecstacy when he can drill down to another's true essence, their soul.
The story mostly takes place during the free love and drug culture (I believe Silverberg's knowledge here)of the 60s, flashing back to these relatively happier times when his talent allowed for easy social interaction.
As his talent (or his curse, as he has often considered it) wanes, he finds
his self is also fading. How can he cope with the impending wall of solitude
once all the voices stop?
With Dying Inside, Silverberg touches on what it is to be human by following a superhuman's slide to normalcy. It's quite thought provoking, and the attitudes
of the 60s are captured very well (I guess that's no great stretch, it was
written in 1971, after all).
The Book of Skulls was a favorite of mine, and this one was also quite impressive.
I definitely will read more of him!
arf88's review against another edition
1.0
I liked the idea of this novel more than the actual execution. A man who’s spent his life with an essential cheat sheet to human interaction suddenly being on the same footing as everyone else? Sounds amazing. Sadly I didn’t actually enjoy this all that much.
I didn’t mind that the main character was unlikable. I didn’t mind that he was racist, sexist and morose. What I did mind was that he was boring. So, so boring. Having no real plot to your novel is fine if the characters are interesting to read about. But no plot and boring characters? It’s like every bad stereotype of the Lit Fic genre and not a book I’d recommend.
I didn’t mind that the main character was unlikable. I didn’t mind that he was racist, sexist and morose. What I did mind was that he was boring. So, so boring. Having no real plot to your novel is fine if the characters are interesting to read about. But no plot and boring characters? It’s like every bad stereotype of the Lit Fic genre and not a book I’d recommend.
roblovesbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0