tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post9081876006532868851..comments2023-09-11T08:32:39.024-05:00Comments on SFF Masterworks: SF Masterworks #59: Robert Silverberg, Dying InsideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-41521062930598853702013-05-10T07:18:14.098-05:002013-05-10T07:18:14.098-05:00I really liked this book when I read it over 8 yea...I really liked this book when I read it over 8 years ago, but I never once thought of it as Science Fiction. It certainly uses the Telepathy trope from Science Fiction, but seems nothing more than a contemporary character study, much like Silverberg's other SF Masterwork The Book of Skulls, which is basically just a road trip between 4 young men. But that is essentially what makes his novels so good - the focus on the characters and how and why they react to the situations they get into. Very absorbing.Warstubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12462907599044043765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-58901932785674040422010-08-15T07:07:08.017-05:002010-08-15T07:07:08.017-05:00Very good review, it even made me overcome my lazi...Very good review, it even made me overcome my laziness and register on Google to be able to post this comment. Given the user name I chose, it's hardly a surprise I adore this book and find the main character one of the most fascinating and well drawn in all of speculative fiction. I never found him repulsive or unsavory, BTW. Pathetic at times, sure, too lazy (something which I can certainly relate to, unfortunately) and seriously flawed, but he has enough compassion and restrain not to abuse his power more - he could've certainly became richer if he wanted it by cheating on a bigger scale, like Nykvist, but chose not to.David Selighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03028467011005848339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-22381101172150716462010-08-10T03:50:28.989-05:002010-08-10T03:50:28.989-05:00I suppose there is that as well. I think our diff...I suppose there is that as well. I think our different reactions to the character of David Selig (plus our mutual enjoyment of the book) speaks volumes about the type of characterization Silverberg achieved here.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-24012307397716319022010-08-09T12:29:46.902-05:002010-08-09T12:29:46.902-05:00" By telling his tale in fragments, the read..." By telling his tale in fragments, the reader is either sucked into the story or is otherwise repulsed by Selig's rather unsavory character. "<br /><br />Or both. I was sucked into the story, but I found Selig repulsive. He almost became a train wreck - I pitied him, but I couldn't look away, couldn't put the book down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-27132859818851805482010-08-05T12:27:41.957-05:002010-08-05T12:27:41.957-05:00About to be the sixth, once I finish writing my re...About to be the sixth, once I finish writing my review of <i>A Voyage to Arcturus</i> later today. The squirrels are in a rush, as I start training for my new job on the 16th and at some point after that, I might not have time for any reviews for a while.<br /><br />And yes, the squirrels haven't killed the others...yet ;)Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-30762280072448705192010-08-05T08:25:35.875-05:002010-08-05T08:25:35.875-05:00This'll be the... fifth consecutive you've...This'll be the... fifth consecutive you've put up, right Larry?<br /><br />Damn squirrels.<br /><br />Well, for anyone who might be wondering: the rest of us <i>are</i> still here. Biding our time, you know. And reading while we do, like at the Doctor's office... Masterworks mayhap.<br /><br />Thanks for holding down the fort while we mere mortals play catch up though, Larry. You are the walrus. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-23665543838779743502010-08-04T10:55:23.330-05:002010-08-04T10:55:23.330-05:00I thought that might be your reaction ;) Selig ce...I thought that might be your reaction ;) Selig certainly isn't the most likable of characters, is he? As for the ending, it could be that I just wanted to interpret it in as positive of a light as possible, considering how much angst was spilled out throughout the novel.<br /><br />The Lindsay review will be tonight, I think. I might take a nap first.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-91662547885583800742010-08-04T10:52:00.811-05:002010-08-04T10:52:00.811-05:00Oh well, the way I see it, we've both seen the...Oh well, the way I see it, we've both seen the same things in both <b>Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang</b> and <b>Dying Inside</b>, but we've switched the way they influenced us :) I have to say that appreciated this book a lot, but never came even close to liking it. Also, the ending was to me vastly inconclusive, and not in a good "let's think about it" way.<br /><br />http://rolandscodex.blogspot.com/Simeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11435940295167464898noreply@blogger.com