Tower of Glass
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| Tower of Glass | |
.jpg/200px-TowerOfGlass(1971Bantam).jpg) Cover of 1971 Bantam Books paperback edition |
|
| Author | Robert Silverberg |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Charles Scribner's Sons |
| Publication date | 1970 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 247 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-684-10544-6 |
Tower of Glass is a science fiction novel by Robert Silverberg, published in 1970. It was nominated for the 1971 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
[edit] Plot summary
The plot involves a 24th century entrepreneur-tycoon-scientist, Simeon Krug, who has created a race of androids to serve humanity. Krug, probably Earth's wealthiest man, directs the construction of an immense tower of glass in the Canadian tundra. The edifice is not a monument, however, but a way to communicate with a distant planetary nebula, NGC 7293, from which an intelligent (though indecipherable) message has been received. Krug is also building a starship to send there, which is to be crewed by androids in hibernation.
The tower construction is directed by Krug's most faithful android, Alpha Thor Watchman. Thor and other leading androids have invented a secret religion for androids, based on the vision that their creator, Krug, intends to eventually make them equal to humans. Krug is unaware of the religion. Thor's dream is to convince him through indirect means, including the manipulation of his weak-willed son and heir, Manuel, through a sexual relationship with a female android, Alpha Lilith Meson. Thor eventually falls in love with her, as does Manuel.
Krug eventually learns of the android religion, and is appalled. After a mind-transfer between Krug and Thor, the former declares that he will never give freedom to androids. Thor despairs, loses his faith and announces Krug's true nature to androids worldwide. He causes the fall of the nearly-complete, 1,200-meter-tall tower. With the collapse of their religion, androids across all of Earth rebel. Many walk off their jobs, others take control of key Earth installations, and some even kill humans in their long-suppressed rage.
Krug and Thor confront each other. The latter, unable to fight his creator, is pushed against an unprogrammed teleporter and annihilated. Krug, his empire crashing down around him and humanity in grave danger, flees in his starship, alone, towards the star system from which the alien message was sent.
