the Internal ear (original title: Dying Inside ) is a novel of Science-fiction of the American author Robert Silverberg. It was published for the first time in 1972 (and in 1975 for the French translation). In 1973, Robert Silverberg gained a Prix John Wood Campbell Memorial for this novel. Also, this one was worth to him a nomination for a Prix Nebula (1972) and a Prix Hugo (1973).

Summary

New Yorkean in forty, David Selig never married. He lives a modest apartment and earns his living by writing work for university students. David thus carries out an existence of most ordinary, or almost. Since its whole young age, it has an exceptional gift indeed: it reads in the thought of people.

If it is telepathic, David the TAIT. In fact, only three people know it (excluding his/her parents). For him, it is amply sufficient.

Opposite his capacity, David always showed itself divided. Child, it appreciated to use it. However, it feared to be uncovered. Adult, it always feels favoured. On the other hand, it tests certain remorses: by probing the spirit of others, it feels Peeping Tom. Also, some discovered shake it. When finally its capacity declines, its ambivalence grows. For him, a search for direction starts then: David must redefine himself. What is it without its gift? Will it approach God? Will it move away from there? Sometimes, it will cling to its strange faculty, endeavouring to preserve it. Sometimes, it will curse it. Towards the end of the history, it will find nevertheless peace.

Comment

Without being autobiographical, parallel is clear for it between the hero of the history and his author: Selig and Silverberg have the same age, they studied at the same university, they are both Jews, and are interested in the literature of science fiction. Also, Silverberg writes this novel at one time when itself, like its hero, doubt . He will say later about the Internal ear : “ It was not easy to write that one ”. Lastly, the author put little on the intrigue. Rather, it explores the torments of its hero (or rather of sound Antihéros).

In the Internal ear , the hero shows of sensitivity, depth, humanity. Being given its capacity, the richness and the celebrity are with her range. Nevertheless, he prefers to approach others. In the past, its gift too often insulated it.

the Internal ear tackles the question of the mysteries, of the secrecies of the heart. The account shows in what they are invaluable, not as well for as they contain, but for what they are: an invitation with the contacts, the bringings together (with the others, but also with oneself).

In this context, telepathy involves risks. It brings knowledge, but creates the distances. Throughout the novel, this paradox is present.

Characters

the Internal ear includes/understands several flashbacks. Thus, certain characters belong to last of the hero. Others, as for them, belong to its present (time to which it is 41 years old).

Those of the past

• Dr. Hittner , psychiatrist having evaluated David in his childhood;

• Kitty Holstein , first woman with which David was in love. For David, to meet Kitty was diverting. Indeed, it could not read in its thoughts. In a letter, it will reveal its gift to him;
• Miss Mueller , impassioned Parapsychology, it taught biology with the young David. Using the Charts of Zener, it failed to discover its gift;
• Tom Nyquist , of all the people whom David knew, it is only the different telepathic one. Nyquist is a little older than David. It represents also its antithesis. Sure from him, without remorse, it benefits from all the advantages related to its gift. David and will be friendly for him several years;
• Martha Selig , mother of David;
• Paul Selig , father of David;
• Barbara Stein , classmate of David, member of a family close to his;
• Toni , in addition to Kitty Holstein, only woman with which David was in love. Toni and David were attended only during a few weeks. With Toni, David will experienced the effects of the acid . However, being given its capacity, this was at the same time involuntary and unpleasant. In end of line, Toni and David had to break.

Those of the present

• Pr Claude Guermantes , professor of French literature. David will take part in the one of his receptions;

• LISA Holstein , David and it will have an adventure. As a David, LISA “detected” something of exceptional;
• Yahya Lumumba , university student. David wrote one of his work. By probing his spirit, David will find hatred and the contempt there. At the end of the history, Lumumba gives to David a beating;
• Judith Selig , adoptive sister of David. She knows her gift. Young people, David and she hated themselves. When David loses his capacity, they will approach;
• Dr. Karl F. Silvestri , one of the many lovers of Judith.

Quotations

The numbers of page below correspond to the edition of 1981 (Editions I have Lu).

• “ the compressed hearts of the travellers forms a formless mass which attacks me. ”, p. 8;

• “ Your capacity connects to you with humanity, for better and for worse, and it is the only fastener which you have. ”, p. 33;

• “ It was a point which it checked constantly, by probing them with anxiety, and constantly it was reassured: they did not have idea that its capacity could exist. ”, p. 44;

• “ Without pressing itself, it carried out a hundred lives by interposed people. ”, p. 79;

• “ As that seemed to him strange, not all to know of only one blow, and not to draw this information as it wished it. ”, p. 205;

• “ shouldn't I defy me exactitude of this image of me seen of you and retransmise through him? ”, p. 225.