Books like Tom O'Bedlam by Robert Silverberg
Set in 2103, the story follows Tom O'Bedlam, a man haunted by vivid, unexplained images that he compares to the medieval ballad’s mad Tom. To keep his sanity and hide the visions, Tom feigns insanity. A distant probe, originating over four light‑years away, begins transmitting the same images, forcing Tom into a new role: humanity’s point of contact with the alien world that could avert Earth's impending collapse. The narrative explores themes of alien contact, telepathy, and psychic phenomena in an American science‑fiction setting.
First publish date: 1985
Genre: Science Fiction/Space Opera
Authors: Robert Silverberg
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