I’ve said it before and here see it demonstrated excellently again – science fiction is best when it works as a metaphor.

The Man in the Maze, Robert SilverbergÂ’s 1968 publication, is a psychological study about an ancient alien world and alien technology, mysterious and incomprehensible, reminiscent of ClarkeÂ’s Rendezvous with Rama and also similar to BradburyÂ’s There Will Come Soft Rains, as a dead planet is kept functioning by unfathomable extraterrestrial machinery.

I think Silverberg had an idea about an archeological alien labyrinth and then built his story around that idea.

And it is a damn good idea.

The maze was built by a race eons extinct, and the labyrinth exists as a monument to isolation and to dangerous inclusion. The Man in the Maze also features one of SilverbergÂ’s, and science fictionÂ’s, great protagonists: the tragic hero Muller. Akin to Kurtz and Raskolnikov, Muller is a tortured soul.

According to Muller, the deliberate outcast, the self-exiled hermit, the labyrinth “summed up the whole essence of their philosophy – kill the stranger”. And here is where Silverberg’s genius is revealed; this work is about isolation from humanity, about the shared ruination of souls and about, ultimately and paradoxically, our desperate, never ending need for one another.

John DonneÂ’s axiom that no man is an island is conceptualized as a science fiction novel.

Silverberg, never one for light hearted mirth or comedic relief anyway, has in The Man in the Maze created one of his darker works, this is a spiritual vehicle that goes to the heart of the darkness that lies in the human soul and serves as an allegory for the byzantine walls we put up to keep others out. I cannot help but wonder if Pink FloydÂ’s Roger Waters was inspired by this Silverberg novel, published just a little over a decade before Pink FloydÂ’s multi-platinum selling double album - The Wall.

2023 reread -

Robert SilverbergÂ’s 1968 novel about alienation and isolation was even better in this later reading.

This is not a spoiler since its listed on the cover, but this all boils down to: the tragic hero, Muller, was sent to make first contact with aliens. Everything went OK, except that they did something to his mind. Now he puts out psychic emanations that are repellant to other humans. Another character describes it as “noise”, “”sludge”, a mental scream that Muller puts out involuntarily that is the summation of his thoughts and it makes other humans violently ill within a few meters. The aliens were telepaths and so maybe they were trying to “fix” Muller, but the result is that everyone can “feel” his psychic impulses and no one can stand it. In despondency he travels to a huge, kilometers wide sprawling labyrinth on an ancient planet, the residents having died millions of years before, to hide his shame and to be alone. The other humans find him after a nine year period of seclusion. They need him to make contact with another alien (somewhat and obscurely reminiscent to the alien ocean in Lem’s 1961 masterpiece Solaris).

So what we have is a fairly straightforward SF gem. When I read this the first time I was enamored with the maze and thought of all kinds of allegories and hidden symbolism. IÂ’m not saying I was wrong, and SilverbergÂ’s description of the labyrinth was very cool, but on this read, eight years since my first time, I honed in on MullerÂ’s plight, of being psychologically ostracized from humanity and what this trauma, plus nine years alone and surviving in the lethal maze, did to him. I must also praise SilverbergÂ’s great ability (BTW IÂ’ve read that heÂ’s a cocky guy, but I guess flaunt it if youÂ’ve got it since this is first rate) because he pulled this off without making Muller out to be a victim, but rather a deterministic but still thoughtful hermit - whose exile is both for himself and for the rest of us. There were some exceptional scenes of quiet introspection where Muller is - ahem - mulling it all over, and Silverberg stuck the landing and got a 9.7 from the East German judge.

Classic, classic, muy bueno SF. If youÂ’re calling yourself a science fiction fan this should be on a list or three to read or read again.

150 s1 comment mark monday1,747 5,545



fuck the world and fuck the people in it. right? fuck 'em. you spend your life trying to do things, accomplish things, putting yourself out there. do people even remember those things? does the universe even care? you are just a cog in the great world-machine that doesn't even want to know you, that doesn't recognize the things you've done. who could ever want you, you are a useless part now that you are



you have many accomplishments, many great deeds. so why was that done to you, why are your insides on the outside, why are all the base emotions and fears and petty little anguishes out there on the surface, a formless cloud of contamination, making people sick to be around you. why should they fear those things? they have such things inside them too, a wounded and wounding toxic sickness of the soul. the hypocrites, they are all you, full of



flee to your new home. a maze and a death-trap. just let those who drove you away come and try to get you, now that they need you. feh! let them try! let them come to your world-maze. let them come and let them die.



it is a book about a maze and the man in it. it is a book about three men. one bitter man on the inside. two men on the outside: one old and cynical and the other young and idealistic. it is a book about being a certain kind of man. different versions, different stages of the same sort of man: an explorer a change agent a man who makes things happen. it is about men who don't need women, or things, or ideas. it is a book about men who need to move forward and make their mark, maybe many marks. men whose accomplishments - and only their accomplishments - define them. what is a maze to such men? simply a place to go.



it is a stark book and it is a melancholy book and it is a thrilling book and it is a surprisingly affecting book. it is beautifully written; it is a pulpy adventure as well. philosophies and perilous missions; rage and sadness and idealism and cynicism; transformation and alienation. alien beings; alien humans. so many things. project your own ideas onto the book; its body is pleasingly formed and ready to be clothed with your own perspective. the man in the maze made the maze his home; he made of himself a maze as well.

alpha-team new-wave rain-man- ...more127 s J.L. Sutton666 1,083

“They say this is the richest era of human existence; but I think a man can be richer in knowing every atom of a single golden island in a blue sea than by spending his days striding among all the worlds.”



I'd never read any of Robert Silverberg's stories before and so decided to begin with The Man in the Maze. This one, about a man, Robert Muller, who exiles himself into a dangerous alien-created maze that must be traversed by a team of scientists so that mankind can once again call upon his services intrigued me. I'm a big fan of first contact stories. This one was a little short on how Muller had bridged the gap and communicated with another species, but the story kept me turning the pages. Published in 1969, it held up. I will read more Silverberg. 3.25 stars44 s Faith2,004 588

After he was altered by an encounter with aliens, Richard Muller has exiled himself to a planet that was created by an advanced civilization that has mysteriously vanished. Left behind was some interesting technology that somehow still works, a lot of creatures (some dangerous) and a maze. The maze is where Muller has lived a solitary life for years. Now some visitors from Earth have arrived to lure/force Muller to help them make contact with another group of aliens. Unfortunately for his visitors, Muller has no interest in helping the human race.

This book has a unique plot, intriguing ideas and a compelling character with huge problems. The author has not disappointed me yet. audible-plus audio28 s Clint Hall178 13

Fantastic!

The world creation and characters are wonderful and imaginative and everything you want from a science fiction. I got heavy Andre Norton vibes from Silverberg's writing style, which I believe to be a good thing. Every few chapters, though, Silverberg got a little horny and had to write about sex and naked women--not a bad thing for me, I'm just letting you know.

Silverberg's descriptions of characters at the start of the book always included an analysis of the lips. Fair enough, I guess. I notice lips in person, too, but usually only if there is something unusual, or tantalizing about them. The oddest description was that of comparing a girl's butt to that of a young boy. I've heard of this before, but can honestly say I have never made that comparison. Fortunately, I've never heard it made in person before either since I don't hang out with people on the registry.

The climax was a bit flat, but this one was thoroughly enjoyable, otherwise. I will definitely find my way to more of Silverberg's books.pulp sci-fi24 s4 comments Garden Reads168 118

Gran novela de Robert Silverberg qué me mantuvo pegado al sillón una tarde completa. Simplemente no podía parar de leer.

Dick Muller lleva años viviendo solo en un misterioso laberinto plagado de trampas en el planeta Lemnus, ésto debido a que tras una misión diplomática en Beta Hydri IV sufre una alteración de su sistema nervioso qué provoca un rechazo incontrolable en toda persona que se le acerque. Ya casi olvidado en su auto reclusión, pronto recibirá visitantes en busca de embarcarlo en una nueva misión que podría salvar la humanidad de un misterioso enemigo.

Interesante premisa de éste autor que a través de su personaje nos invita a reflexionar sobre la soledad, el rechazo, la honestidad... En un inicio la novela es sumamente misteriosa, enganchandote de la primera página y haciéndonos preguntar qué es lo que esconde éste tan complejo laberinto, quienes fueron sus constructores, no obstante, el autor no se dedica a indagar en ello, pues en el fondo es lo de menos. La novela se centra exclusivamente en el personaje de Dick Muller y sus emociones, sus recuerdos, su constante sensación de percibirse a si mismo como un monstruo, o algo cercano a ello, y su resignación ante su "condición" en apariencia incurable.

Aún así, pronto descubrimos que incluso aquello qué a simple vista pareciera una maldición también puede llegar a transformarse en algo útil y en este caso en una herramienta para salvar a una humanidad que languidece frente a un enemigo poderoso e implacable con el que parece imposible negociar o entenderse.

Recomiendo mucho este libro. Cómo mencioné antes me resultó adictivo, aunque para disfrutarlo en integridad creo que lo mejor es saber de él lo menos posible, pues su trama sorprende.

¡Si te gusta la ciencia ficción no va a decepcionarte!20 s Gabrielle1,057 1,510

"You speak as if you belong to an alien race" Rawlins said in wonder.
"No. I belong to the human race. I'm the most human being there is, because I'm the only one who can't hide his humanity"


I discovered Silverberg on Goodreads, when "The Book of Skulls" (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) popped up in my updates. While some dated details and the treatment of (barely existent) female characters bothered me, the ideas he was working with also fascinated me so much that I sought out more of his work.

The premise of "The Man in the Maze" is wonderfully intriguing: Richard Muller is a famous space explorer, who made first contact with the only other sentient species in our galaxy. But his glory came at a terrible cost; those aliens did something to him that makes his presence intolerable for other humans. His life more or less ruined, he exiled himself on the planet of Lemnos, in the middle of a strange and deadly maze left behind by a long-vanished civilization. But a crisis of Earth pushes an old, Machiavellian colleague of Muller, Charles Boardman, to seek him out to ask for his help in dealing with the threat against their home world.

This book really is about is alienation, about feeling completely ostracized and trapped. Muller is obviously trapped in a situation where being around others proves impossible, but he can't bring himself to reject them the way he has been rejected. Ned Rawlins is also trapped, in a situation where he must do something morally reprehensible for the greater good and struggles to come to terms with that.

The maze is the characters' minds, the various traps and snares are their memories, their inner wounds they are sometimes not even aware of themselves. Muller's "disease" is fascinating: people can't stand him because he makes them feel exactly the way they do... but are never allowing themselves to admit. The maze protects him, but it also protects other people, the same way the many walls we put between ourselves and others serve as a defense mechanisms.

But metaphor aside, it is also just a wonderful idea: the abandoned planet shows no trace of its former inhabitants, but a self-regulating, life-sustaining but completely empty city designed to trap and kill those unworthy to get to its heart. Its really a futuristic archaeologist' wet dream!

Just "The Book of Skulls", the depiction of the 100% decorative and sexually pleasing female characters made me roll my eyes and grunt. Silverberg, for all his good ideas, didn't have a very sophisticated perception of women (I remember reading an article about James Tiptree Jr. - Alice Sheldon's nom de plume - where Silverberg insisted the author was a man because there was something ineluctably masculine about the writing... Sigh...). That definitely cost the book a star in my rating; but I still really loved the core idea of the story, and I was surprised by how affected I was by it.

Despite it's flaws, this is a beautifully written book that contains the kind of ideas that will stick to your brain for a long time after you turn the last page. Highly recommended for fans of old school sci-fi.own-a-copy read-in-2018 reviewed ...more17 s ???????? ????????582 80

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In one of Robert Silverberg's novels from 1967, "Thorns," the future sci-fi Grand Master presented his readers with one of his most unfortunate characters, Minner Burris. An intrepid space explorer, Burris had been captured by the residents of the planet Manipool, surgically altered and then released. Upon his return to Earth, Burris was grotesque to behold, resulting in one very withdrawn, depressed, reclusive and psychologically warped individual indeed. And a year later, in the author's even more masterful "The Man in the Maze," we encounter still another space explorer who had been surgically altered by aliens, but this time, the alterations are mental, rather than physical, although no less devastating to the subject's sense of self-worth. "The Man in the Maze" was one of three sci-fi novels that Silverberg released in 1968, along with (the excellent) "The Masks of Time" and "WorldÂ’s Fair 1992"...AND eight sci-fi short stories AND eight full-length books of nonfiction. Silverberg's writing had entered a whole new phase as regards craft and literacy in 1967, and "The Man in the Maze" shows the author in the full flush of his newfound abilities.

In "The Man in the Maze," the reader encounters ex-interplanetary diplomat and space explorer Dick Muller, whose career had been going along swimmingly until, at around age 50, he'd been called upon to make contact with the first intelligent civilization that humankind had thus far encountered: the residents of Beta Hydri IV. After many months of seeming indifference to Muller's presence amongst them, the Hydrans had seized the Earthman and, for reasons never learned by either Muller or the reader, operated on his brain. On his return to Earth, Muller discovered that his fellow humans could no longer abide his physical presence. Somehow, all the nasty sludge deep down in his brain was now being telepathically communicated to others, an infinitely less harmful variant of the Id Monster in the 1956 sci-fi classic "Forbidden Planet," or the psychic equivalent of the aroma that hits a NYC subway rider when he/she enters a car that contains an especially foul-smelling homeless person!

Unable to turn off his repellent mental aura, Muller had immured himself at the center of the ancient maze on the dead planet Lemnos; a murderous, million-year-old labyrinth with limitless means of destroying intruders. After nine years, however, a ship lands on Lemnos, containing Charles Boardman (the man, now 80, who had sent Muller on his disastrous mission to the Hydrans), Ned Rawlins (a 23-year-old space cadet, whose father had been a friend of Muller's) and a ship's complement. Their mission: to somehow penetrate to the heart of the killer maze and persuade Muller to come out and undertake an even more dangerous mission. It seems that an extragalactic race has recently entered our galaxy and begun to enslave Earth colonies at the outer fringes, and that only a man with Muller's peculiar condition might be able to communicate with them. But will the understandably bitter and neurotic recluse be at all interested in helping the humans who had earlier rejected him?

Of all the many novels that I have read by Silverberg, I believe that "The Man in the Maze" might work best as a $200 million motion picture. In the book's tremendously exciting first half, robot probes and then a trained group of soldiers meet horrific ends as they endeavor to map a path through the concentric zones of the maze. In the book's next section, Rawlins encounters Muller and uses lies and psychological manipulation to wheedle the bitter hermit back out. Silverberg presents us with frighteningly strange animal life on Lemnos and, via flashback, a glimpse of those Hydrans, a race of aliens that is truly alien. Ditto for those extra-galactics, when we finally encounter them near the novel's end; that elusive "sense of wonder" that is the hallmark of all great sci-fi is to be had in great abundance here. Silverberg's writing itself is of a very high order, too. He gives us marvelous dialogue, and his descriptions of some of the worlds that Muller had visited are both highly imaginative (such as the Earth colony on planet Loki, where the residents deliberately seek to attain weights of 400 pounds and more by means of "glucostatic regulation") and oftentimes almost poetical ("He had slept beside a multicolored brook under a sky blazing with a trio of suns, and he had walked the crystal bridges of Procyon XIV."). And then there are the passages that are almost psychedelic in nature (such as when Rawlins traverses the maze's distortion field), a warm-up of sorts for the lysergic passages in the author's 1971 novel "Son of Man." The author also gets to voice his feelings on the difficult lot of the telepath in this novel, a theme that would be explored in infinitely greater depth in 1972's brilliant "Dying Inside." It would have been wonderful had Silverberg come out with a sequel to this marvelous novel--the finale is certainly an open-ended one, with several important questions unanswered and the fate of the galaxy still very much up in the air (or should that be "up in the vacuum"?)--but what we have here is still quite satisfying enough.

"The Man in the Maze," naturally enough, is not a perfect novel, and a close reading will reveal a few slight missteps on the author's part. For example, Silverberg tells us that Lemnos has a 20-month year in one chapter and a 30-month year in another. Similarly, he tells us that Lemnos has a 30-hour day in one chapter and a 20-hour day 50 pages later. And he is guilty of some slight instances of ungrammatical writing, extremely untypical for him, such as when he writes "...mild-mannered ungulates which drifted blithely through the maze...," instead of "...that drifted." But these are trivial matters that Silverberg's editor should have caught 47 years ago, when the book was first published, and flubs that only the most nitpicking wackadoodle (yeah, that's me!) would notice. The bottom line is that "The Man in the Maze" is literate, exciting, suspenseful, adult sci-fi with an interesting trio of lead characters and a fascinating story line. One of my bibles, "The Science Fiction Encyclopedia," gives it a mere seven-word description ("a dramatization of the problems of alienation"), but this reader found it to be so very much more. Now, Mr. Cameron/Nolan/Abrams/Spielberg/Blomkamp, howzabout raising the requisite dinero to bring THIS awesome science fiction vision to the big screen?

(By the way, this review originally appeared on the FanLit website, an excellent destination for all fans of Robert Silverberg: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/ )



16 s Gary K Bibliophile272 71

The Man in the Maze is one of my 'puzzle books'. I have mentioned this on a few of my GR before. I to do puzzles and had bought a SciFi book puzzle a few years back. Since I refer to it every so often I added it as one of my GR photos. I had read several featured on the puzzle before, but there were new ones too. I made a personal goal to try to read most of them over the next few years (very scientific huh
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