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Book Reviews of Those Who Watch

Those Who Watch
Those Who Watch
Author: Robert Silverberg
ISBN-13: 9780450032608
ISBN-10: 0450032604
Publication Date: 9/1/1977
Pages: 176
Edition: paperback / softback
Rating:
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0 stars, based on 0 rating
Publisher: New English Library Ltd
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

hardtack avatar reviewed Those Who Watch on + 2563 more book reviews
We're not alone. An advanced civilization is keeping a close watch on us, and lives by the creed "Do not interfere," which became popular later in the Star Trek series. Due to an accident, three members of this race are forced to land on Earth. With their communicators disabled. their associates are unable to find them quickly.

Separated, the three aliens must interact with humans to survive. What happens next is a nice, old fashioned sci-fi tale with some sex thrown in. At the time, this story was probably considered racy.
reviewed Those Who Watch on + 1568 more book reviews
Another classic first contact novel. A bit dated (written in 1967) but still a good read.
CRASH LANDING FROM THE STARS---Only three humans would ever know that the blinding flash in the sky on that night in 1982 was an exploding flying saucer. Only they would learn the truth about THOSE WHO WATCH--about the alien beings who came into this world in a crash landing from the stars.
This is the strange, seductive novel of three accidental colonists from outer space whose chance encounter with Earth people is about to trigger interplanetary conflict. It's also a love story.
perryfran avatar reviewed Those Who Watch on + 1180 more book reviews
Robert Silverberg is one of my favorite science fiction authors. I've read several of his books dating back to the 70s and always enjoy them. Those Who Watch is a short novel published in 1967. The novel is about three aliens who are part of a larger group of aliens who watch over the earth to see how humankind has been progressing. These aliens, the Dirnans, have been monitoring the Earth for thousands of years along with a competing alien group called the Kranazoi. The Dirnans are surgically altered to appear human. When their space craft malfunctions and explodes, the trio of aliens bale to Earth but are separated and injured. Luckily, they each are taken in and nursed back to health by kind human beings. The first is rescued by an 11-year old Indian boy who learns a lot from the Dirnan. The other two, one female and one male, are rescued by two lonely people of the opposite sex who end up falling in love with the aliens! This short novel draws to a close rather quickly but ends with a feeling of hope for those affected.

I did rather enjoy this novel from the 60s, written during the heyday of science fiction. I think this is the earliest novel I have read by Silverberg but I know he was writing science fiction as early as the 1950s. Some of his other novels I have read were a bit more substantive such as DYING INSIDE and THE BOOK OF SKULLS but this one was still worth reading.
perryfran avatar reviewed Those Who Watch on + 1180 more book reviews
Robert Silverberg is one of my favorite science fiction authors. I've read several of his books dating back to the 70s and always enjoy them. Those Who Watch is a short novel published in 1967. The novel is about three aliens who are part of a larger group of aliens who watch over the earth to see how humankind has been progressing. These aliens, the Dirnans, have been monitoring the Earth for thousands of years along with a competing alien group called the Kranazoi. The Dirnans are surgically altered to appear human. When their space craft malfunctions and explodes, the trio of aliens bale to Earth but are separated and injured. Luckily, they each are taken in and nursed back to health by kind human beings. The first is rescued by an 11-year old Indian boy who learns a lot from the Dirnan. The other two, one female and one male, are rescued by two lonely people of the opposite sex who end up falling in love with the aliens! This short novel draws to a close rather quickly but ends with a feeling of hope for those affected.

I did rather enjoy this novel from the 60s, written during the heyday of science fiction. I think this is the earliest novel I have read by Silverberg but I know he was writing science fiction as early as the 1950s. Some of his other novels I have read were a bit more substantive such as DYING INSIDE and THE BOOK OF SKULLS but this one was still worth reading.