I want to love Tower of Glass. Robert Silverberg is frequently compared to Philip K. Dick. I consider that high praise. I've read two books from Silverberg and neither has clicked. This book is exceptionally written. The author clearly a master of his craft. Tower of Glass on it's surface is a novel about androids. Released two years after Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the two share plenty in common. Released in 1970, concerned with racial climate at the time, Silverberg's androids serve as a metaphor for slaves and slavery.

The problem here is that Tower of Glass lacks any subtlety. No, it's layed on thick. Conversations where characters stop and directly bring up black slavery. It borders on fourth wall breaking. As if Silverberg is grabbing the reader by the collar and shouting, "Look! Don't you get it? The androids are like pre-emancipation black people!"

This is an obvious book. Built off an obvious metaphor. Written by an author with great talent.