THE TOUCH

by Daniel Keyes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 23, 1968

Meet the Starks, childless, uncomfortable, incompatible, Barney, once a talented sculptor, now dissipating his talents as an industrial designer. . . Karen, cloyingly romantic, increasingly frustrated and lethargic. They are living out their lives to the beat of a fertility clock, an effort that remains futile. Suddenly, there's the incident at the National Motors Laboratory. An accident that involves Barney's carpool partner; an accident that is hushed up, cleaned up and almost forgotten until weeks later when Barney and Betty discover that they are the victims of man's most insidious invisible killer. . . radiation. This then becomes the story of two people caught up in a security sweepstakes and community nightmare as they are stripped, fumigated and ostracized; particularly when ignorance and fear give way to violence after it is learned that Betty is finally pregnant. She refuses to abort even though Barney, now embittered and hostile, rejects both the baby and her. Certainly a chilling Touch. One that you'll remember.

Pub Date: Oct. 23, 1968

ISBN: 1929519028

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & World

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION