The Man in the Maze
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg
Overshadowed by its own metaphor.
Just as classic science fiction is known to have, there’s a message in this book… or so I’m told by other reviews of it. And sure, I guess I see it: the psychological study of simultaneous self-isolation, alienation, and imprisonment. But, while most everybody will praise it for this metaphor, and criticize it for being sexist (forgetting that it’s a product of its time), I can’t help but ask, where’s their sense of wonder 💭? Not the self-righteous reason they came to after reading it, but the curiosity that compelled them to read it in the first place.
This book gives a true sense of wonder that is compounded by the intrigue of why. The mystery of why Muller is on this deadly planet to begin with. What could’ve happen to him to enact such drastic isolation?! Combined with just enough world building to give you what you need, while leaving you wanting more with so many unanswered questions. The world is a fascinating character in and of itself, and it’s that fascination that stuck with me. An endless, ever shifting labyrinth where water can flow out of solid matter 🤯?! The sear concept of this book is brilliant, and that’s where I will agree with everyone, the concept is where it truly shines.
I went into this book completely blind, with no expectations. I decided I wanted to try some classic sci-fi, the cover caught my interest, so I read it… and was blown away.
