The Divide
{4.5/5} “With the right gestures and the necessary words, he could intimidate almost anyone — play the primate chords of fear, anger, love, or distaste, and do so at will. For a time, when his contempt for humanity had reached its zenith, he did it often. It was a means to an end, as irrelevant to ethical considerations as the shearing of a sheep. Or so he had thought.”
The Divide by Robert Charles Wilson, published in 1990
Johm had been the subject of a CIA funded experiment to produce a superior human being. Now he’s sick, and possibly dying. Susan visits him to tell him that Dr. Kyriakides wants to see him and might be able to help. Meanwhile, John lives with Amelie, a waitress — except sometimes he’s John and sometimes he’s her boyfriend, Benjamin.
It’s about people who see themselves as different from everyone else, and people who are different from everyone else. It’s about making up for past mistakes.
If, like me, you want to read all of Wilson’s novels you will be happy to read this one.
I’ve read 18 of Wilson’s books. I previously reviewed Gypsies.