The Touch

by Steven-Elliot Altman

In the tradition of Coma and The Andromeda Strain comes the ultimate biological terror...

A Depriver is someone who, for reasons still under scientific investigation, possesses and employs a defense mechanism that can drastically incapacitate other human beings. They are prohibited by law from touching anyone due to the inherent adverse effects of their touch.

Some people, unfortunately, don't know they're Deprivers. Therefore, a brush with someone on a bus could have life-threatening consequences.

If you have come into direct physical contact with a person suffering from this syndrome, you can be deprived of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, memory, pain, balance, or sense of direction...indefinitely.

The Touch documents over twenty cases of Deprivers Syndrome outbreaks which will keep you in suspense until the final shocking page.

STAY SAFE! DON'T TOUCH STRANGERS!

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Steven-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.

Reviews

[| J · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I cannot put this book down. It is a collaboration from many different authors, each writing a chapter. The stories are connected by a common theme, but show flashes of lives across the world from different times and how very different people are all affected in similar ways by SDS (Sensory Deprivation Syndrome). Ordinarily I'd have a hard time reading so many different authors at once. The style change is usually disappointing, as you'll find one that you want to read more from, and someone you can't believe was chosen to mix in. However, in The Touch, I've not yet found an author I don't enjoy reading.

I'll add more when I'm finished!

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really nice selection of short stories, a few were not very good but over all they were short but sweet reads

[Sasha Grabenstetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a long search I finally refound this book. I read it a long time ago & still remember some of the chilling stories. Amazing piece of work. Each story has it's own unique aspect to bring to the collection. It's a hard one to put down.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the read. Has made me notice just how sucky life would be w/o being able to have physical contact with people.

[Jennifer Calhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories I still remember years after reading the book.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great anthology for a good cause. Worth the read.