I read this book that I have had on my shelves for several years because it was mentioned by Oliver Sacks in his book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. One of the minor characters in Thorns was an idiot savant who could tell you the day of the week for any date within several thousand years. This character was evidently based on one of the character studies in Sacks' book.
Otherwise, this was a somewhat interesting sci-fi novel from Silverberg. It was about a starman who had returned to earth after being operated on by some aliens in a far-off star system. The operation changed his appearance and bodily workings dramatically and he was seen as somewhat of a freak when he returned to earth. The other protagonist of the novel was a young woman of 17 who had hundreds of her eggs removed and fertilized outside the body resulting in over 100 children. These two people are thrown together by a rich 600-pound entertainment producer who followed them along with a vast audience on "vid". His purpose was to feast on their pain as their relationship devolved into constant fighting and bickering between the two.
This novel was written in 1967 but it is very relevant to today with the public's fascination for voyeurism in reality TV such as the Kardashians and The Bachelor. I have read quite a few of Silverberg's science fiction novels and they never disappoint!
Otherwise, this was a somewhat interesting sci-fi novel from Silverberg. It was about a starman who had returned to earth after being operated on by some aliens in a far-off star system. The operation changed his appearance and bodily workings dramatically and he was seen as somewhat of a freak when he returned to earth. The other protagonist of the novel was a young woman of 17 who had hundreds of her eggs removed and fertilized outside the body resulting in over 100 children. These two people are thrown together by a rich 600-pound entertainment producer who followed them along with a vast audience on "vid". His purpose was to feast on their pain as their relationship devolved into constant fighting and bickering between the two.
This novel was written in 1967 but it is very relevant to today with the public's fascination for voyeurism in reality TV such as the Kardashians and The Bachelor. I have read quite a few of Silverberg's science fiction novels and they never disappoint!
