The Touch

The ultimate 'what if' novel, from the million-copy-bestselling author of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON: 'A masterpiece of poignant brilliance ... heartbreaking' Guardian

Karen and Barney Stark should never have married. Childless, uncomfortable and incompatible, their marriage has not been a success, and the lack of a child only makes the tension between them worse. And living their lives to the beat of a fertility clock only adds to the increasingly volatile atmosphere.

When an incident at Barney's workplace causes them both to be unknowingly contaminated with radioactive dust, they also become pariahs - in their neighbourhood and with their families. But things are only going to get worse. Karen discovers she is pregnant and as their closest friends become frightened enemies, the dream of becoming parents turns into a nightmare...

“Unflinchingly honest ... it will make you reflect on your own life ... and completely and utterly break your heart - GUARDIAN online for FLOWERS FOR ALGERNONWhat possibly could turn into a sort of science fiction thriller actually becomes a very human book with the spilling of emotions becoming more important than the radioactive accident - HERALD ADVERTISERTerrifying in its potential reality - MANCHESTER EVENING NEWSA chilling Touch. One that you'll remember - KIRKUSGripping, well-plotted book ... radiation contamination has provided Keyes with a macabre and unusually provocative idea for a novel and he exploits it with narrative skill - WASHINGTON STAR”

Unflinchingly honest ... it will make you reflect on your own life ... and completely and utterly break your heart - GUARDIAN online for FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

What possibly could turn into a sort of science fiction thriller actually becomes a very human book with the spilling of emotions becoming more important than the radioactive accident - HERALD ADVERTISER

Terrifying in its potential reality - MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

A chilling Touch. One that you'll remember - KIRKUS

Gripping, well-plotted book ... radiation contamination has provided Keyes with a macabre and unusually provocative idea for a novel and he exploits it with narrative skill - WASHINGTON STAR

Daniel Keyes (1927-2014)

Born in Brooklyn in 1927, Daniel Keyes worked as a merchant seaman, editor and university lecturer. He published four other novels, including Flowers for Algernon, originally a short story, for which he won the Hugo Award, later expanded into the Nebula Award-winning novel and adapted as an Oscar-winning film (Charly, 1968). Daniel Keyes had a Master's degree in English and American literature and was a Professor of English and Creative writing. He died in 2014.

The ultimate 'what if' novel, from the million-copy-bestselling author of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON: 'A masterpiece of poignant brilliance ... heartbreaking' Guardian Karen and Barney Stark should never have married. Childless, uncomfortable and incompatible, their marriage has not been a success, and the lack of a child only makes the tension between them worse. And living their lives to the beat of a fertility clock only adds to the increasingly volatile atmosphere.When an incident at Barney's workplace causes them both to be unknowingly contaminated with radioactive dust, they also become pariahs - in their neighbourhood and with their families. But things are only going to get worse. Karen discovers she is pregnant and as their closest friends become frightened enemies, the dream of becoming parents turns into a nightmare...

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