The Man in the Maze (novel) facts for kids
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Cover of first edition (hardcover)
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| Author | Robert Silverberg |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Sidgwick & Jackson |
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Publication date
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1969 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 192 |
The Man in the Maze is a science fiction novel by American writer Robert Silverberg. It first appeared in a magazine called Worlds of If in 1968. The book was then published in bookstores in 1969.
The story is about a man who cannot be around other people. This is because of his special mind powers. The novel gets ideas from an old Greek play called Philoctetes. It uses characters similar to those in the play.
The book talks about feeling alone and different. It uses mind powers to show how people connect (or don't). In 1968, a law was passed in the United States. This law made public buildings easier for people with disabilities to use. Silverberg's book came out around the same time. It looked at old ideas about disability in a new way. The story shows how our abilities and challenges help define who we are.
Silverberg used similar ideas in another book, Dying Inside.
Contents
What is The Man in the Maze About?
The story of The Man in the Maze takes place in the future. The main character is Richard Muller. He used to be a diplomat, someone who works with other countries. Now, he lives alone on a planet called Lemnos. He hides from everyone in a very old city. This city is like a giant maze. It was built by a race of aliens who are now gone. The maze has many deadly traps. These traps keep people from reaching the center where Muller lives.
The Story of Richard Muller
Richard Muller once worked hard for humanity. He traveled to many planets. He faced many dangers. One day, a diplomat named Charles Boardman asked him for help. Muller was asked to meet aliens from the planet Beta Hydri IV. This was the only intelligent alien race found so far.
Muller's Strange Power
Muller spent five months with the aliens. When he came back, something had changed. Other humans could not be near him. He gave off a strong mental repulsion field. This field made his inner feelings painfully clear to anyone close by. Earth scientists could not understand this power. So, Muller chose to live alone.
A Dangerous Mission
After nine years, Boardman finds Muller. Boardman needs Muller's help again. His team uses robots and human volunteers to get through the maze. Many people die trying. Ned Rawlins, whose father was Muller's friend, finally reaches him. Rawlins tells Muller that there might be a cure for his power. This is a trick to get Muller to leave the maze.
Rawlins feels bad about tricking Muller. He tells Muller the truth. Only Muller can talk to aliens from another galaxy. These new aliens are destroying human civilization.
Facing the Aliens
Six human worlds have already been taken over. The people on these worlds are like zombie slaves. The aliens are huge. They talk to each other using their minds. They are not very good at moving around. But they can enslave whole planets. Muller is the only one who can send out mind signals. He might be able to talk to them. But Muller is very angry at aliens and even at humans.
Muller meets Boardman. He agrees to meet the new aliens. He flies to the edge of the galaxy. He goes inside an alien ship. The aliens seem to read his mind.
What Happens Next?
When Muller returns, he meets Rawlins. Muller's repulsion field is gone! Rawlins hopes Muller will go back to Earth. But Muller decides to return to the maze. Boardman thinks Muller will come back out in a few years. Rawlins does not think so. The story ends without telling us what happened with the aliens. We also don't know what happened to Muller. Rawlins starts to follow in Muller's footsteps. He is like the brave adventurers of the past.
