Tower of Glass
Encyclopedia
Tower of Glass is a science fiction
novel by Robert Silverberg
, published in 1970. It was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1970, and for both the Hugo and Locus awards in 1971.
. 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.
After the minds of Krug and Thor are connected in the "shunt room" which allows one mind to probe another's (a form of technologically enabled telepathy), Krug learns of the android religion. Appalled by this revelation, Krug declares that he will never give freedom to androids. Thor despairs, loses his faith and announces Krug's true nature to androids worldwide. 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. Thor then causes the fall of the nearly-complete, 1,200-meter-tall tower.
An engraged Krug attacks Thor; the latter, unable to fight his creator, is pushed into an unprogrammed teleporter
and annihilated. Krug, his empire destroyed and humanity in grave danger, flees in his starship, alone, towards the star system from which the alien message was sent.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
, published in 1970. It was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1970, and for both the Hugo and Locus awards in 1971.
Plot summary
The plot involves a 24th century entrepreneur-tycoon-scientist, Simeon Krug, who has created a race of androids to serve humanityHuman Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
. Krug, probably Earth's wealthiest man, directs the construction of an immense tower of glass in the Canadian tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
. The edifice is not a monument, however, but a way to communicate with a distant planetary nebula
Planetary nebula
A planetary nebula is an emission nebula consisting of an expanding glowing shell of ionized gas ejected during the asymptotic giant branch phase of certain types of stars late in their life...
, NGC 7293, from which an intelligent (though indecipherable) message has been received. Krug is also building a starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
to send there, which is to be crewed by androids in hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
.
The tower construction is directed by Krug's most faithful android, Alpha Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
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
Lilith
Lilith is a character in Jewish mythology, found earliest in the Babylonian Talmud, who is generally thought to be related to a class of female demons Līlīṯu in Mesopotamian texts. However, Lowell K. Handy notes, "Very little information has been found relating to the Akkadian and Babylonian view...
Meson
Meson
In particle physics, mesons are subatomic particles composed of one quark and one antiquark, bound together by the strong interaction. Because mesons are composed of sub-particles, they have a physical size, with a radius roughly one femtometer: 10−15 m, which is about the size of a proton...
. Thor eventually falls in love with her, as does Manuel.
After the minds of Krug and Thor are connected in the "shunt room" which allows one mind to probe another's (a form of technologically enabled telepathy), Krug learns of the android religion. Appalled by this revelation, Krug declares that he will never give freedom to androids. Thor despairs, loses his faith and announces Krug's true nature to androids worldwide. 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. Thor then causes the fall of the nearly-complete, 1,200-meter-tall tower.
An engraged Krug attacks Thor; the latter, unable to fight his creator, is pushed into an unprogrammed teleporter
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
and annihilated. Krug, his empire destroyed and humanity in grave danger, flees in his starship, alone, towards the star system from which the alien message was sent.
External links
- Review of Tower of Glass
- Tower of Glass at Worlds Without End