The Happy Unfortunate - Robert Silverberg

The Happy Unfortunate (short story) by Robert Silverberg
Dekker, back from space, found great physical changes in the people of Earth; changes that would have horrified him five years before. But now, he wanted to be like the rest... even if he had to lose an eye and both ears to do it.
Published December 1957 ~ Amazing Stories

[@Daleksaresupreme1]

These days it really helps my mood to dive into something old that's new to me, this was a wonderful little find

[@franksavage8730]

Who does that FANTASTIC art on all these covers?

[@n.b.2164]

I agree. Good story. I enjoyed it.

[@JamesPawson]

Silverberg shines here, surprised he didn't include this in his _Phases of the Moon_ collection. The themes in this story really resonate with evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa's non-fiction book _The Intelligence Paradox._

[@stephencharman9604]

Perhaps inspired by the difficulties a lot of professional soldiers face trying to merge back into society after war service

[@Daleksaresupreme1]

In that respect it's very similar to the hero by George R R Martin

[@grahepo]

such a tragedy, a good friend died while a stupid never content man lived to be stupid and never content for the rest of his life

[@rachel_v_k]

Not for the rest of his life. At the end, he realized that he had hope with Laynie. That she was actually beautiful in a real, not artificial, way. And there was a future for him. He accepted what he was and realized that his life had far more hope than the Earthers or trying to be like them. I saw that Rolf grew as a character by the end.

[@spades6916]

True and takes he’s girl

[@RightNowMan]

Twenty seven

[@TinaJesse859]

Written badly and horrendously verbose along with being read awfully.

[@abidesthedood3490]

You are a rotten human. You are the problem.