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SILVER
Spanish
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 24, 2025
“He was only a human being and didn’t really know what he was doing”!
Silver was a genetic oddity – a white-haired, blue-eyed gorilla. “Adopted” by two sociologist/anthropologists in Gabon and brought to the USA to be reared from childhood in an “enriched” human environment, Silver is toilet-trained and taught to dress himself, read, write, speak, eat and, in general, conduct himself as if he were a human boy.
SILVER is a very odd, bizarre, noir, and, frankly, deeply disturbing story, told in his own words after his “retirement”. Without even a trace of wry humour, Silver’s story is a fierce critique of the American view of itself and the American version of Homo Sapiens as the pinnacle of evolution, beating relentlessly on the hubris and arrogance of human values. SILVER viciously critiques mankind’s relations with other sentient species on the earth and serves as an allegorical metaphor to blast other human failings such as racism, homophobia and sexual repressiveness.
I suppose one might allow that it is, at least marginally, to their credit that science ultimately comes to realize that their experiment with Silver and other simians has been a cruel failure. But the scientists’ attempt to return the apes to Africa (dubbed “The Great Return”) is colored with continuing blindness to their own failings. Urbanyi’s attack on mankind’s failure to identify and understand its own problems becomes even more apparent. Consider the outrageous level of irony in this anthropologist’s pep talk to the participating great apes as they endeavour to re-assimilate to life in the African jungle:
“Let me make a few things clear so you know what the program is all about. First off, I should explain a few aspects of my conduct that might be considered abusive but that I can assure you are pedagogically sound. I’m talking about my efforts to stimulate your natural simian aggressiveness and instill in you the discipline necessary to carry this whole enterprise through. And there’s another point I’d like to make clear: in spite of the diversity of species and educational backgrounds among the members of this group, it has been proven – both in my own research and in practice – that harmonious coexistence among different kinds of species and races is possible … Although it will not be easy for us to eliminate certain factors and elements that have corrupted you, such as money, cars, blue jeans, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s walkmans, prostitution, politicians, the market economy, drugs, pornography and mass hypnosis into anonymous imbecility, we will nevertheless be able to replace these factors with a full and conscious identity filled with love, altruism, understanding, communication, etcetera. It follows, then, that no prejudice or racism will be tolerated here: nothing about the Germans being better than the French, the Whites than the Blacks, or chimpanzees being more intelligent than orangutans.”
One has to wonder if Silver’s assimilation into USA mainstream culture endowed him with the ability to roll his eyes and the mental capacity to quietly ask himself, “You are kidding me, aren’t you?”
I cannot say that I found SILVER to be entertaining or enjoyable. The sardonic nature of the commentary was so biting that the humour was never laughable. But, from first page to last, SILVER was instructive, informative and compelling. Definitely recommended for readers who enjoy a book that will challenge them.
Paul Weiss
Silver was a genetic oddity – a white-haired, blue-eyed gorilla. “Adopted” by two sociologist/anthropologists in Gabon and brought to the USA to be reared from childhood in an “enriched” human environment, Silver is toilet-trained and taught to dress himself, read, write, speak, eat and, in general, conduct himself as if he were a human boy.
SILVER is a very odd, bizarre, noir, and, frankly, deeply disturbing story, told in his own words after his “retirement”. Without even a trace of wry humour, Silver’s story is a fierce critique of the American view of itself and the American version of Homo Sapiens as the pinnacle of evolution, beating relentlessly on the hubris and arrogance of human values. SILVER viciously critiques mankind’s relations with other sentient species on the earth and serves as an allegorical metaphor to blast other human failings such as racism, homophobia and sexual repressiveness.
I suppose one might allow that it is, at least marginally, to their credit that science ultimately comes to realize that their experiment with Silver and other simians has been a cruel failure. But the scientists’ attempt to return the apes to Africa (dubbed “The Great Return”) is colored with continuing blindness to their own failings. Urbanyi’s attack on mankind’s failure to identify and understand its own problems becomes even more apparent. Consider the outrageous level of irony in this anthropologist’s pep talk to the participating great apes as they endeavour to re-assimilate to life in the African jungle:
“Let me make a few things clear so you know what the program is all about. First off, I should explain a few aspects of my conduct that might be considered abusive but that I can assure you are pedagogically sound. I’m talking about my efforts to stimulate your natural simian aggressiveness and instill in you the discipline necessary to carry this whole enterprise through. And there’s another point I’d like to make clear: in spite of the diversity of species and educational backgrounds among the members of this group, it has been proven – both in my own research and in practice – that harmonious coexistence among different kinds of species and races is possible … Although it will not be easy for us to eliminate certain factors and elements that have corrupted you, such as money, cars, blue jeans, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s walkmans, prostitution, politicians, the market economy, drugs, pornography and mass hypnosis into anonymous imbecility, we will nevertheless be able to replace these factors with a full and conscious identity filled with love, altruism, understanding, communication, etcetera. It follows, then, that no prejudice or racism will be tolerated here: nothing about the Germans being better than the French, the Whites than the Blacks, or chimpanzees being more intelligent than orangutans.”
One has to wonder if Silver’s assimilation into USA mainstream culture endowed him with the ability to roll his eyes and the mental capacity to quietly ask himself, “You are kidding me, aren’t you?”
I cannot say that I found SILVER to be entertaining or enjoyable. The sardonic nature of the commentary was so biting that the humour was never laughable. But, from first page to last, SILVER was instructive, informative and compelling. Definitely recommended for readers who enjoy a book that will challenge them.
Paul Weiss
August 4, 2018
I stumbled upon this wonderful book at my local public library and I'm very pleased that I did. My memories of this book are still vivid as it struck a chord with me. The story seems to ridicule human-kind and its hypocrasies. Scientists who work with apes professionally are viewed in an unflattering way for the most part. They appear pompous, arrogant and wear their short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness as badges of honour. Even the vaunted Jane Goodall doesn't escape unscathed, athough she isn't named. She is portrayed as someone a bit unstable who lives with the apes she is transitioning from captitvity to wild conditions.
Silver, the Gorilla of the title is somehow more human and humane than the humans he lives with/is kept by. Stunningly there are a few episodes where there is cross-primate intimacy (brace yourself.) Silver must alleviate the stress of his situation with the consumption of alcohol and the smoking of cigars. Who can blame him? This story was refreshing for me because of its novelty and also because the author has written a very entertaining and thought-provoking story. It is intelligently written and presents a look at American society from a differen perspective.
Silver, the Gorilla of the title is somehow more human and humane than the humans he lives with/is kept by. Stunningly there are a few episodes where there is cross-primate intimacy (brace yourself.) Silver must alleviate the stress of his situation with the consumption of alcohol and the smoking of cigars. Who can blame him? This story was refreshing for me because of its novelty and also because the author has written a very entertaining and thought-provoking story. It is intelligently written and presents a look at American society from a differen perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2022
With all the countless talented writers out there, who aren't even allowed to throw their manuscripts over a publisher's transom, its discouraging to see that something this deplorable could get published. I could barely believe how awful this book was. The writing is pretentious, and yet insufferably pedestrian. Both the characters and the plot are two dimensional - and two is being generous! The scattered and faint through-line in this book is that when comparing "beasts" to humans, it is the beasts that are civilized, and the humans beastly. Well - that's never been tackled before! What a relief to finally have this concept brought to light. The writing here is cynical and pessimistic, and tells us that modern society is emotionally doomed, but of course provides no solutions. It must be concluded that the author is deeply cynical and pessimistic, but his words and scenarios don't let the reader form these images - it's bluntly forced down our throats. Truly - a reasonably talented high school English student could have done better with this.
March 19, 2020
Wow, this is a weird book. It is about a gorilla raised in the USA by a sociologist couple who acquires the ability to talk and proceeds to have an inappropriate relationship with his human “mother”. He gets put in a zoo, reintegrated unsuccessfully into the wild and then reintegrated successfully into society. Both sad and inspiring, I couldn’t put it down.
Alphabet challenge 2020-U: Urbanyi
Alphabet challenge 2020-U: Urbanyi
August 8, 2009
A refreshing and hilarious satire of simian civilization and American barbarism. Couldn't put it down until I had finished it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews