Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg
"Tower of Glass" is a science fiction narrative revolving around Simeon Krug, who becomes fixated on establishing communication with extraterrestrial life by building a communications tower in the Canadian tundra. Having earned his wealth through the invention of androids—artificial beings designed to fulfill human labor needs—Simeon remains oblivious to the complex society that has developed among these androids, who view him as a divine figure. Central to the story is the tension between androids, led by Thor Watchman, and the Android Equality Party (AEP), which advocates for their liberation from servitude.
As the plot unfolds, Thor grapples with his faith in Simeon amidst growing unrest among his fellow androids. The narrative intensifies when revelations about the androids' religious beliefs come to light, leading to a violent revolt against their creator. The conflict culminates in a tragic confrontation between Thor and Simeon, ultimately resulting in Thor's death at the hands of his creator. In the aftermath, Simeon chooses to abandon Earth, seeking out the stars he longs to communicate with, leaving behind a chaotic world where androids must navigate their newfound autonomy. The story explores themes of creation, belief, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, raising questions about the nature of humanity and the responsibilities of a creator toward their creations.
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Tower of Glass
First published: 1970
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—cultural exploration
Time of work: 2218-2219
Locale: Earth
The Plot
Simeon Krug is obsessed with communicating with aliens by answering mysterious messages received from the stars. To achieve this, Simeon is funding the construction of a communications tower on the Canadian tundra. Simeon made his fortune by inventing a process to create androids, artificial humans who meet most of humanity’s need for physical labor. The androids are considered property and have few civil rights.
Simeon is unaware that the androids have spawned a religion with him as god. The hierarchical religion’s fundamental tenets are the androids’ fervent belief that their enslavement is a time of testing and that one day Simeon will speak out in their behalf and they will take their rightful place as equals beside humans.
Android Thor Watchman is Simeon’s foreman at the tower construction and a leading figure in the religion. Thor and his fellow believers are at odds with the AEP, the Android Equality Party, a group seeking to free androids from slavery through politics. When a member is killed, the AEP tries to use the event to get a constitutional amendment passed to free androids. The increased presence of the AEP pressures Thor into trying to influence Krug to end his creations’ suffering. Thor conspires with android Lilith Meson, who has been having an affair with Simeon’s only child, Manuel.
Manuel is a pliant, shallow playboy who takes little interest in either his father’s businesses or his obsessive tower-building. Manuel spends most of his time taking advantage of instantaneous travel technology to hop from one end of the world to another. At loose ends, Manuel easily is swayed by Lilith to speak to his father on the androids’ behalf. Manuel reveals the androids’ religion to Simeon.
Simeon, astounded and aghast that the androids consider him to be their god, confronts Thor and forces him to engage in “shunting,” a technological innovation that allows people to share consciousness. Thor sees into the mind of his creator and realizes, to his horror, that Simeon will never consider androids anything more than manufactured slaves. Thor spreads the bad news to all androids that their faith has been in vain.
Androids everywhere revolt, with much bloodshed. Thor and Lilith travel to the unfinished tower, where Thor oversees its destruction. Simeon, surveying the sacrifice of his dream, fights with Thor. Although the physically superior android could easily defeat Simeon, Thor, despite his despair and fury at his god’s failure, cannot bear to harm his creator, and Simeon kills him.
Simeon cannot accept that he will never talk to the stars, nor is he capable of truly understanding the ramifications of the android rebellion. He abdicates his responsibilities to his bewildered son and flees Earth in an interstellar spacecraft. Still obsessed by the idea of communicating with unknown aliens, he will travel in a hibernative state for more than six hundred years to the source of the messages from the stars, leaving Earth and the rest of humanity to an uncertain future in the hands of the androids.