Eye Among the blind

by Robert Holdstock

The Fear - mysterious, unstoppable, this deadly plague is slowly wiping out humanity. And only one world seems to offer hope of sanctuary - Ree'hdworld, home of the only other intelligent beings in the universe. But Ree'hdworld is not as safe as it seems. For something has been happening to the natives - both the friendly Ree'hd and their more primitive kinsmen, the Rundii. And only three people stand any chance of discovering and surviving the danger that the humans of Ree'hdworld will soon Kristina, an Earthwoman who is slowly "going Ree'hd"; Maguire, a blind man who should have died centuries ago and who, living, has seen all the secrets of the universe; and Zeitman, a brilliant scientist who holds the key to salvation on Ree'hdworld in his mind - if only he can discover it in time...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Robert Paul Holdstock was an English novelist and author who is best known for his works of fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction.

Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.

Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.

Reviews

[John Tetteroo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deze eerste roman van Robert Holdstock verkent het innerlijke niet rationele universum waarin mens en alien elkaar proberen te bereiken en te begrijpen. Dit verhaal speelt zich ruwweg in hetzelfde universum als zijn tweede roman, maar dan in de aanloop naar de val van de Aardse federatie die al meer dan 1000 jaar planeten koloniseert. De planeet zelf is de thuiswereld van de Rhee'd die de wind aanbidden en wier voornaamste bezigheid bestaat uit zingen naar de wind.

De hoofdpersoon is een onderzoeker die drie jaar na zijn onfortuinlijk verlopen scheiding terugkeert naar deze wereld omdat hij plotseling tot inzicht is gekomen dat hij nog niet echt over zijn ex heen is. Helaas voor hem is hij een zodanige egomane klootzak dat zijn ex nu met een onfrisse alien in een vochtige grot hokt. Tot overmaat van ramp is iedereen op de planeet boos op de hoofdpersoon om zijn eigen (vaak goede) redenen. Alleen een blinde ziener staat nu en dan aan zijn zijde, maar ook die heeft zijn eigen beweegredenen.

Tot zover de premisse voor een lekker vreemd verhaal zou je zeggen, ware het niet dat Holdstock zijn verhaal zo diepzinnig en mystiek maakt dat er aan de plot en de karakters geen touw valt vast te knopen. Het lezen van Ziende Blind voelt helaas aan als het consumeren van een bord koude spaghetti zonder saus. Alle verhaaldraden plakken aan elkaar en als je ze probeert te ontwarren blijf je over met smurrie. Ik moet bekennen dat ik hele secties heb doorgebladerd om te voorkomen dat mijn brein zou wegzakken in een poging om de weg te vinden uit het moeras van onsamenhangende zinnen, paragrafen, schetsen, whatever. De hoofdpersonen zijn vooral lichtgeraakte eikels zonder enige zelfreflectie of relativering, stil zat ik te hopen dat Zeitman opgevroten zou worden door een van de Rhee'd en dat er dan een interessanter hoofdpersoon voor in de plaats gesteld zou worden.

Helaas ik moest het hele end met hem door akkeren om erachter te komen dat ik na het einde nog steeds niet snapte wat de schrijver wilde of wat er nu precies had plaatsgevonden. Dit is dus vooral een leuke roman voor liefhebbers van duistere verhalen met een open einde en mogelijk wat uitdagingen in de zinsvolgorde. Ik vond er helaas geen Rhee'd aan (exusez le mal pun)

[Murray Ewing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ree’hdworld is the only planet where humankind have found another form of intelligent life, though the Ree'hd are considered to be primitive curios rather than equals to technologically-advanced humanity. But, when a life-sapping disease known as the Fear (that's been wiping out human colonies across the Galaxy) reaches Earth, humans flee to Ree’hdworld in panic. Several humans already on that planet, on the verge of understanding the true nature of the Ree'hd and their supposedly primitive state, realise they have to do everything they can to stop an invasion by humankind.

I read this novel because I love Holdstock's Mythago Wood, and always meant to go back and read all his novels (the non-pseudonymous ones, anyway) from the start. This is his first. I have to say I found it mostly unengaging — perhaps because the lead characters are themselves somewhat remote. Robert Zeitman, a scientist, is rather arrogant and unsympathetically possessive of his ex-wife Kristina; Kristina's desire to become part of the alien Ree'hd, meanwhile, could have been the centre of a more interesting novel, but here left me wanting more; Maguire, the blind man with all the answers, comes across as more of an ageing hippie than someone with genuine, cosmic insight. But it does have a couple of sense-of-wonder moments towards the end, and when the ideas start to come together, it gets a lot more interesting. Still, mostly I was reminded of Robert Silverberg's Downward to the Earth, a better take on humankind discovering an advancement in consciousness through involvement in an apparently primitive alien lifecycle. I suspect that, as I make my way through Holdstock's early novels, I'll find more of interest in this book, for its being an early statement of Holdstock's themes and interests, and his evolution as a writer.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea was a fascinating one, although not original: the relationship between a humanity spread out through numerous star systems and only other intelligent species they've encountered. The main character is a biologist who had spent many years studying the world, returning after four years of separation from his fellow-biologist wife, still on the planet. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, but... it dragged in the middle, and the writing left a fair bit to be desired; I ended up skimming sections to get the plot to move on. Holdstock definitely improved from here, which makes sense since this was his debut novel.

[Nick J Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Holdstock’s choice of genre for his first novel is at the heart of his exploration of the basic human struggle between rational knowledge and intuitive understanding. The science is “soft”, philosophical and speculative. Heisenberg's uncertain influence is especially apparent in the characterisation: The titular blind seer, whose perception guides the main character, Robert Zeitman, a forsaken lovesick biologist in turmoil because of his ex-lover’s relationship with an alien!

Set against a surreal backdrop of mudflats and burrow complexes, the story is essentially a voyage of self discovery. The depiction of Zeitman’s heart tugging him away from his investigation of the local lifeforms is subtle and at times thrilling. The prose is clear yet literary and at times Holdstock’s tongue wanders surprisingly close to his cheek, both factors which help keep this sometimes weighty tome afloat. Despite the heavy subjects - love and abandonment, fear vs acceptance - Eye Among the Blind is a surprisingly breezy read and a stunning debut, praised at the time by Ursula Le Guin for its intellectual, imaginative and emotional treatment of the familiar science-fiction trope of alienness.

Along with its companion novels, Earthwind and Where Time Winds Blow, it forms a lose trilogy with a vaguely ontological theme, centred around the motifs of spirit, body and mind. All three novels are thought-provoking reads that work equally well as stand alone narratives. Eye Among the Blind focuses on spirit. The central interest lies in a misconception, on humanity’s behalf, of a long-term evolutionary process entangled with a sort of special quest for transcendence; and it is a mark of Holdstock’s authorial skill that, even this early in his career, he was able to maintain such interest while telling what is essentially an entertaining and highly enjoyable story.

[Jonathan Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much here, in one of Holdstock’s earliest novels that would go on to be central to his work - a sense of body and place being metaphysically intertwined; a view of humanity self-separated from nature but unable to break that bond. This story of another world and culture effected by ‘peaceful’ human incursion is ahead of its time in many ways, exploring the idea that no matter how softly we tread, how good our intentions, destruction can follow in our wake. A little confused at times perhaps and not entirely sure of itself, this still points towards what a profoundly good writer Holdstock would become.

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a difficult science fiction novel to evaluate. Hard to tell what the writer wants to tell to the reader. At least I was left a bit confused.

Somehow in the end there were similarities with 2001 Space Odyssey's ending and the birth of the "Space Child" but in a bit more modest scale; a birth of a more advanced species perhaps, a man reincarnating into something better... I don't know.
An outcome of evolution on an odd windy planet with three more or less intelligent species and a small colony of humans in one single city. Humans who in the manner typical to their race almost fuck up the whole ecosystem even their intention in the first place was not to interfere.

For some other reader this might be an awesome reading experience, or me it was not But as said it may be lack of understanding from my part.

Näkevä sokea
Karisto 1988

[Tex-49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo romanzo è ambientato in un Pianeta, il Mondo di Ree'hd, dove convivono un avamposto terrestre, Terming, e due razze aliene: i Ree'hd (unica altra razza inteligente dell'Universo) e i Rundii (una razza ad uno stato di evoluzione ancora semi-animalesco). Il protagonista, Zeitman, vi giunge dopo anni di assenza e riprende i suoi contatti con gli indigeni, dalla cui cultura si sente affascinato..per scoprire che la mitica terza razza, i Pianhmar, non è solo un mito, ma qualcosa di più e di più complesso.di assenza e riprende i suoi contatti con gli indigeni, dalla cui cultura si sente affascinato..per scoprire che la mitica terza razza, i Pianhmar, non è solo un mito, ma qualcosa di più e di più

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book.

The plot was passable if muddy, though it didn't engage me that much, and many questions were left hanging. It felt like one episode in a far longer and more involved storyline. It also suffered from the 1970s science fiction flaw of being largely about an internal conflict within the central protagonist — not a problem in itself, but distracting when there are far meatier topics within the novel to discuss.

On the other hand, the alien civilisation(s) were some of the best written and believable in any science fiction I have read — up there with Ursula Le Guin, which is high praise. Overall I was reminded of the novella-plus-music of Robert Sheckley's "In a Land of Clear Colours".

Three to three and a half stars.

[Joachim Boaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...

"Robert Holdstock’s first science fiction novel, the anthropologically inclined Eye Among the Blind (1976), contains kernels of his later genius. His abilities, according to critics such as John Clute, are fully manifested in works such as his fantasy novel Mythago Wood (1984).

At first glance Eye Among the Blind has the trappings of intellectually inclined “heavy” anthropological SF in the vein of Ursula Le Guin and Michael Bishop. It tackles [...]"

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 1976 novel a palpable sense of alienness is strongly conveyed but unfortunately the uneven and dawdling pacing and disjointed rambling narrative only engendered indifference on my part. This was a shame since its philosophical musings on human-alien interaction, evolution and transcendence were fascinating. Despite some unlikeable and poorly formed characters the underlying mysteries were skilfully presented in an engaging manner resulting in an intriguing conclusion.

[Neil Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sci fi novel. I was disappointed to find that, later on, he concentrated on fantasy rather than science fiction, but I will be searching out his other early science fiction work. highly recommended if you like serious science fiction that makes you think, and is highly readable as well.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart boek. Het lijkt alsof het boek nog niet klaar is. Apart geschreven.

[Eamonn]

I gave up on this after reading about a third. It wasn't bad but it seemed to echo too many things I'd read before elsewhere, and the arc of the story felt predictable. Perhaps I was too hasty.

[James]

Book by Holdstock, Robert

[Stephen Hampshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent sci-fi, really conjures up a feeling of alienness.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating book.

Tries to deal with where Mankind fits, or doesn't in the Universe.

A little too much mysticism, wrapped up in Pseudo Science for my tastes.

[Bibi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik vond het wat saai en kon moeilijk mijn aandacht erbij houden. Ik was al geen liefhebber van SF, en dit boek heeft daar helaas geen verandering in kunnen brengen.

[Katariina]

Rekisteröin kirjan BookCrossing.com-sivustolla!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13164529

[Pierre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ziende blind

[Eija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aika tasapaksu. Enemmän selittelyä ja vähemmän tapahtumia. Arvosana 2½-3-