Thorns

I read Robert Silverberg's Dying Inside at the age of 19 in 1983, followed closely by Thorns, and to state it as simply as possible, these two books changed me from an adolescent to an adult. Up to that point in time I could only see the world from a surface point of view. I basically believed that everyone is basically the same, so I enjoyed books about characters I could identify with. When I came across a book with characters I didn't understand, I thought the writer was an idiot. I didn't realize that the problem was with ME! But Dying Inside and Thorns took me on a voyage into the minds of human beings who were TOTALLY unlike me, yet TOTALLY understandable. I could LITERALLY feel my mind expanding as I read these books. It was as close as I have ever come to having a 'spiritual' experience. By the time Silverberg was through with me, I was not the same dumb kid. I suddenly saw that people are all DIFFERENT, not alike! I was able to read authors I hadn't appreciated before, because now I could accept not only that people are different, but actually take pleasure in trying to see the world from their point of view! I didn't read many other Silverberg books after that, sad to say. The simple fact is, these two books were a bit sad for me. The characters and situations are VERY depressing, as well as brilliantly rendered. But I will always be appreciative of the gift reading these books gave to me: The simple ability to imagine the world from someone else's point of view, without judgement. The world is packed full of people who have yet to learn this lesson, perhaps because they don't read anything that challenges their status quo. They see themselves as the standard of perfection, and feel justified to hate and distrust anyone who thinks differently, goes to a different church, or votes for a different political party. I think this basic lack of imagination and empathy is the core cause of most human suffering. Just in case Robert Silverberg ever happens to read this review, I'd like to thank him for making me a better person. I heartily recommend these novels to dumb young kids who need a kick in the brain