Customer Reviews

The Burden of Indigo

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An excellent psychological probe of a criminal in a futuristic, horrorfic setting.

Gene O'Neill is a magical writer who wears a lot of costumes. At times he is SF poet, at others master of horror. O'Neill philosophizes, bobs and weaves and then says BOO like early Bradbury. This novel muses about sin, pride and the possibility of redemption. Its world is a future that is bizarre and Orwellian, yet neo- Facist and familiar. In this bleak time, convicted criminals are color-coded. Their skin shades, and felony crimes, are to mark them forever. The Indigo Man dares to believe that his skin is fading back to its original color; thus that his shame may eventually be washed away. "The Burden of Indigo" considers momentous themes (all of our various "isms") while it spins a wonderful, dark tale. I think it represents the most valuable kind of speculative fiction: That which is relentless and probing, yet imaginative and lyrical. This is no space-opera, or cheese-fest. Reading this book is a highly subtle and subjective experience, but one I would recommend highly.

This relatively short book is based on a short story by the author about a pedopheliac who is dyed indigo from head to foot and cast into the wilderness for his crimes. The entire book is about this blue guy wandering around, commiserating with himself, and hoping that the dye will wear off.

There just isn't much of a story here. The author flexes his pseudo-intellectual muscles at the end, but fails to put any real strength into his work. The potential existed for an excellent story line, but the characters are shallow, there is minimal dialogue, and the plot drags. Too bad.