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Deprivers
The Barnes & Noble Review
In Steven-Eliot Altman's debut novel -- a paranoia thriller reminiscent of the 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds that panicked its listeners into mass hysteria -- the world is faced with a medical epidemic that could change civilization forever. People who contract Sensory Deprivation Syndrome (they're called Deprivers) can cause sudden blindness, deafness, paralysis -- or any other number of sensory deprivations -- just by making skin-to-skin contact. Once experienced, the effect could last only a few minutes or forever, depending on the potency of the Depriver's affliction.
In Steven-Eliot Altman's debut novel -- a paranoia thriller reminiscent of the 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds that panicked its listeners into mass hysteria -- the world is faced with a medical epidemic that could change civilization forever. People who contract Sensory Deprivation Syndrome (they're called Deprivers) can cause sudden blindness, deafness, paralysis -- or any other number of sensory deprivations -- just by making skin-to-skin contact. Once experienced, the effect could last only a few minutes or forever, depending on the potency of the Depriver's affliction.
When SDS is made public, the world reacts much as it did in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Fear, confusion, and misinformation drive some people to violence; and many Deprivers are senselessly killed. When secret global bureaus (the Ministry) and government agencies like the Center for Disease Control get involved, many Deprivers join forces to fight the imminent legislation that will make them virtual prisoners. While scientists race to find a cure to this epidemic that is irreparably changing society, some Deprivers will do anything to remain free.
Intelligent and thought-provoking, Deprivers is one of those rare novels that will haunt the reader's subconscious for a long time. Paul Goat Allen
368 pages, Audiobook
First published December 1, 2003
4 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Steven-Elliot Altman
13 books8 followersSteven-Elliot Altman is a bestselling author, screenwriter, graphic novelist and video game designer. His games include Acclaim's multiple award-winning title 9DRAGONS and Wooga's PEARL'S PERIL. Steve's novels include CAPTAIN AMERICA IS DEAD, ZEN IN THE ART OF SLAYING VAMPIRES, BATMAN: FEAR ITSELF, THE KILLSWITCH REVIEW, THE IRREGULARS and DEPRIVERS. He's also the editor of the critically-acclaimed anthology THE TOUCH and a contributor to SHADOWS OVER BAKER STREET, a Hugo Award Winning anthology of Sherlock Holmes Stories.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 4, 2020
An excellent premise with an execution that suffered slightly. Deprivers was sometimes confusing to read because the perspective kept changing without much indication as to who is speaking. Nonetheless, the jumpy plot wrapped up in a thrilling way, leaving me wanting for a sequel.
March 9, 2018
Pretty boring tbh.
October 19, 2022
This book was tough to stay with. The perspective changed without warning and without any real clues to it. I might try reading again later.
September 4, 2007
In the not-to-distant future, people start developing a disease called SDS, Sensory Deprivation Syndrome. SDS carriers can take away your senses with a single touch. Some deprive you of vision, taste, sound, or other senses. Some deprive you temporarily—and some deprive you forever.
Robert is an SDS carrier who paralyzes with a touch. He works as an assassin, paralyzing people and killing them while they cannot move. But when Cassandra breaks into his apartment and tells him that there are others out there like him—and that Deprivers are beginning to choose up sides, he decides to join hers. She needs his help to rescue her brother Nicholas from a group of anti-Normal Deprivers who want to control the future of Deprivers and the Deprived.
I liked this book more than I liked the book that inspired it, the short story anthology The Touch. For one thing, it’s less depressing—it has hope to it, which doesn’t really show up in the short stories in the earlier book. For another, I liked following one set of characters for more than fifteen pages.
That said, I wanted Altman to do more with his characters, to go further with SDS. The most interesting part came right at the end, and left me frustrated and wanting it to be better explained. The book didn’t live up to its potential. It was an interesting, thought-provoking read, but it could have gone one step further to be really fantastic.
Robert is an SDS carrier who paralyzes with a touch. He works as an assassin, paralyzing people and killing them while they cannot move. But when Cassandra breaks into his apartment and tells him that there are others out there like him—and that Deprivers are beginning to choose up sides, he decides to join hers. She needs his help to rescue her brother Nicholas from a group of anti-Normal Deprivers who want to control the future of Deprivers and the Deprived.
I liked this book more than I liked the book that inspired it, the short story anthology The Touch. For one thing, it’s less depressing—it has hope to it, which doesn’t really show up in the short stories in the earlier book. For another, I liked following one set of characters for more than fifteen pages.
That said, I wanted Altman to do more with his characters, to go further with SDS. The most interesting part came right at the end, and left me frustrated and wanting it to be better explained. The book didn’t live up to its potential. It was an interesting, thought-provoking read, but it could have gone one step further to be really fantastic.
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October 7, 2013Robert Luxley is special - and deadly. He's turned a freak genetic oddity into a well-paying career. If he touches you? You're it. You're dead. You're paralyzed for 15 minutes and there is NOTHING you can do about it. Nothing you can do when he takes a syringe with an air bubble and shoots it into your arm, into your blood, creating an embolism - that kills. He thinks he's all that. He thinks he's IT. He thinks he can rule - until he meets Cassandra - and realizes....he's not the only one. Not the only Depriver. Not the only one who can touch another human and cause them to pass out - not even.
So this girl knocks on his door, and they're talking and quite clearly NOT touching each other and he realizes: she knows. She knows what he can do, heck she even came up with the cool name - Deprivers. So what does he do when he finally meets someone like him, realizing he's not so alone in the world? Well, first, he slips some drugs into her water making her pass out....I wonder what he'll do when she wakes up?
So this girl knocks on his door, and they're talking and quite clearly NOT touching each other and he realizes: she knows. She knows what he can do, heck she even came up with the cool name - Deprivers. So what does he do when he finally meets someone like him, realizing he's not so alone in the world? Well, first, he slips some drugs into her water making her pass out....I wonder what he'll do when she wakes up?
August 28, 2008
A very good book, especially if you enjoy fantasy or science fiction, though I really believe this is a book that anyone would enjoy even if they are not into those genres. It is sort of along the lines of X-men in the way that there are people being born who have mutations in their DNA that allow them to "deprive" people of one of their senses if they touch their bare skin. Obviously these people are feared and are forced to go into hiding while they are just trying to live ordinary lives. The general public wants them eradicated and everyone starts wearing gloves so they won't accidentally come in contact with someone who is a depriver. It was a very good read, I really enjoyed it and I really wish Steven-Elliot Altman would come out with more books because this one is so superb!
December 21, 2011
Deprivers reminded me of XMen. Here are mutated people who have special powers. There is a senator who is against them, trying to make laws that will round them all up. There is one Depriver guy who is starting a Depriver rights movement, for deprivers, but against the normal people. There is one person who might hold the key to the cure. Very XMen-y. But i love Xmen so this was great. It's not a whole novel, it's more like a couple of smaller novels in one. When it switched over to a new character and new time i got really confused. But i figured it out! I'd LOVE more books about the deprivers, it really seems like there should be, but so far, there is only, I believe, a short stories book that came before this. SEQUEL PLEASE!!
September 24, 2012
Cross between The Curse Workers Trilogy and X-Men. Skillfully written, very bifocal. Blurry characterization and even blurrier ending. Too many loose ends. Sad because I really would have liked this book. More comments (and spoilers) under the cut.
April 12, 2012
Having a "super-power", if we can call it that way, is good but not always.
Luxley had this ability to paralyze people only by a single touch. I believe in the impossible, that's why I think I become interested. As expected, this kind of persons were avoided by the public but hunted by the ones who want their service or power. Just like in movies.
Luxley had this ability to paralyze people only by a single touch. I believe in the impossible, that's why I think I become interested. As expected, this kind of persons were avoided by the public but hunted by the ones who want their service or power. Just like in movies.
October 18, 2010
The protagonists are unintentionally sociopaths, with little to no consideration of the feelings/reactions of those around them, and a concerning lack of emotional reaction to tragedy surrounding them.
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November 11, 2013Dumb title, dumb book. Gave it a chance 'for 14 chapters and chucked it. I hate when a book is in first person voice then switches to another character first person without warning and you're reading along wondering, "who is this?"
April 14, 2008
Thriller
January 29, 2010
Interesting book I picked up on an aimless journey through the library. Glad I read it. Makes you question some of the decisions you would make if put into similar situations.
February 10, 2010
Deprivers are individuals who can deprive touched individuals of senses. The time and deprived sense varies. Interesting science fiction book that deals with the social issue of prejudice.
December 14, 2010
wow. just read it.
July 7, 2011
I didn't think I was a big fan of science fiction but I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audiobook and stayed at work to finish the last cd. I would recommend this to anyone.
August 3, 2012
This was the most beautiful book I've read in a long time.
March 16, 2015
I liked the concept, but the delivery needs work.
July 16, 2015
Great idea, really interesting but I was listening to the audiobook and the reader just killed it for me. Stick with reading the book on this one.
September 26, 2015
Interesting idea not well executed. It seemed like the first half of the book was disconnected from the second.
July 25, 2012
Loved. Buy it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews