BOOK BRIEF

Thorns

Robert Silverberg
Guide cover placeholder

Thorns

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1969

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
Robert Silverberg

Thorns

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1969
Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Fantasy

Science Fiction
Setting

Space • Future

Publication Year

1969

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Thorns, Robert Silverberg explores themes of emotional pain and human connection through the lives of a grieving astronaut and a disfigured woman. Both individuals are manipulated by a media mogul who exploits their vulnerabilities for entertainment. The narrative delves into their struggles as they confront personal traumas while seeking redemption and understanding.

Mysterious

Dark

Bittersweet

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.6

851 ratings

49%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Thorns by Robert Silverberg is a compelling exploration of human emotion and identity. Readers praise its imaginative narrative and rich character development. While some find the pacing uneven, the book's intricate themes and thought-provoking questions about humanity keep audiences engaged. Overall, it remains a strong example of Silverberg’s storytelling prowess.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Thorns?

A reader who enjoys Thorns by Robert Silverberg would appreciate complex characters and themes of isolation and identity, akin to fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune or Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. Those intrigued by psychological depth and speculative fiction with philosophical undertones would find it compelling.

3.6

851 ratings

49%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Fantasy

Science Fiction
Setting

Space • Future

Publication Year

1969

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!