tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post7128595178901988660..comments2023-09-30T14:54:49.597+02:00Comments on Realms Of Speculative Fiction: Robert Silverberg - Son of Man (Book Review)ThRiNiDiRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235487104345529619noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-48079218750109164612011-12-09T06:09:57.516+01:002011-12-09T06:09:57.516+01:00I am re-reading "Son of Man', having last...I am re-reading "Son of Man', having last read it a year or two after first publication. I suspect Silverberg wrote in this style (very unlike heavily plotted stories, e.g: anything happening on Majipoor) to out-do H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" and Olaf Stapledon's "Last and First Men" and "Starmaker". It compares well with them, but you will be disappointed if you expect any of them to be like Vance's "Dying Earth."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-28362966278707325332011-12-06T18:28:36.599+01:002011-12-06T18:28:36.599+01:00I can honestly say that Son of Man is one of my fa...I can honestly say that Son of Man is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it the first time when I was about 20 years old and it just floored me. It's one of the most strange and thought provoking books I've read. I've never had a problem reading or finishing it; for me it flows. But then I like the philosophical and archetypal references. I can see where it might be a lot like reading a Joyce novel though. I re-read it every couple years and every time I get more out of it as I mature.JM Gustafsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928589728835482406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-57081656735934609802011-09-14T13:30:07.426+02:002011-09-14T13:30:07.426+02:00Do not feel bad about struggling with this book, o...Do not feel bad about struggling with this book, only feel sad about the time you wasted in the process. How anyone ever came to consider it a classic is baffling. I'm sorry but it's terrible. The writing style is redolent of a third rate grade school essay (although with more references to genitals). The story is a cursory mix of flimsy hippy cod-philosophy and dubious sexual obsession. Indeed it's being generous to say the thing even has a story - it's more of a bad acid trip. At 192 pages it is about 190 pages too long. Maybe it's weaknesses have something to do with the fact that Silverberg was churning out novels a bit like Ford churning out cars. But some of it is unforgiveably bad. Why did no one realise before they published it? It has to be said this book is very much "of its time" - the early seventies, when the swinging and psychadelia of the sixties had evolved into sleazier and more selfishly hedonistic forms. There was a lot of SF written in that era which probably looked adventurous then but now seems cringeworthy. Probably the same things could be said about porn. It's no wonder that eventually the punk movement came along to spit on all that went before it and declare you should never trust a hippy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-36165763868971593472011-08-21T00:47:51.290+02:002011-08-21T00:47:51.290+02:00I read Son of Man in High School believe it or not...I read Son of Man in High School believe it or not, and I am buying it again because it was probably the most interesting book I've ever read... I thought it was beautiful. and Also, when I describe the feeling I got from reading it to people I usually tell them "the book had sex with my mind".... Thats REALLY how it felt... it was like peyote.the RoseWood Beasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14388799275812853702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-1067608038056190402009-01-22T15:15:00.000+01:002009-01-22T15:15:00.000+01:00It's not actually a DNF review, because I did fini...It's not actually a DNF review, because I did finish Son of Man, but it is the first 'ok-wtf?' one xD And yes, it's really a lot like reading War and Peace, or maybe rather Crime and Punishment ... great style, great importance, but you still can't bring yourself to really, really like it. xDTrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00774906919092281518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700851155622035345.post-56011230832053364062009-01-21T18:17:00.000+01:002009-01-21T18:17:00.000+01:00Huh. Very interesting review/analysis, Trin! I hav...Huh. Very interesting review/analysis, Trin! I have had similar experiences with certain novels (haven't we all?), appreciating that they are beautifully written but really not able to like them. I kinda felt this way with Neuromancer, and books like War and Peace. You <I>know</I> they are important books...but they just aren't that fun or interesting. <BR/><BR/>At the very least, you tried and gave the book a fair shot :) And you have your first DNF (non)review! That's a pretty big milestone in itself ;)Theahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11138984974139025278noreply@blogger.com