This article is for the novel and film. See Sliver (song) for the song by Nirvana.

Sliver (1991) is a novel by U.S. author Ira Levin about the mysterious goings-on in a privately-owned New York highrise apartment building, especially after a new tenant -- an attractive young woman working in publishing -- has moved in. Phillip Noyce directed a film based on the book in 1993.

Synopsis

Book version

Sharon Stone and William Baldwin

When she makes the acquaintance of a handsome and friendly young man who lives in the same "sliver" building she does not know at first that he is the owner. While keeping a low profile himself, he turns out to know an awful lot about the other inhabitants including many of their secrets. It then turns out that he is a modern-day Peeping Tom who, unknown to everyone, has had surveillance cameras and microphones installed in every single apartment of the house, with his own place in the building serving as his headquarters. The novel is also a murder mystery, and the beautiful heroine soon becomes a damsel in distress herself.

Film version

Phillip Noyce 's film version (1993, screenplay by Joe Eszterhas, who also wrote Basic Instinct) deviates considerably from the plot of the book. The film starred Sharon Stone and William Baldwin. The movie takes rather a simplistic stance on voyeurism, suggesting that wanting to secretly observe people and thus invading their privacy is part of human nature. Levin's novel, on the other hand, tries to draw a line between man's innate curiosity and pathological and compulsive behaviour patterns.

Soundtracks

1. Can't Help Falling in Love

   by George Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore , performed by UB40

2. Carly's Song

   written by Michael Cretu, performed by Enigma

3. Slid

   by Michael Bryant, Michael Tournier and Jonathan Fugler , performed by Fluke (band)

4. Unfinished Sympathy

   by Grantley Marshall , Robert Del Naja, Andrew Vowles , J. Sharp and Shara Nelson , performed by Massive Attack

5. Most Wonderful Girl

   by Oliver Adams , Nikki Van Lierop and Maurice Engelen , performed by Lords of Acid

6. Oh Carolina

   performed by Shaggy, contains the "Peter Gunn Theme " by Henry Mancini

7. Move With Me

   by Neneh Cherry and Cameron McVey , performed by Neneh Cherry

8. Slave to the Vibe

   by V. Jeffrey Smith , Peter Lord and Guy Routte , performed by Aftershock

9. Penthouse and Pavement

   by Ian Marsh , Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory , performed by Heaven 17

10. Skinflowers

    by The Young Gods and Roli Mosimann , performed by The Young Gods

11. Star Sail

    by Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury, Nick McCabe and Richard Ashcroft, performed by The Verve

12. Wild at Heart

    by Markus Nikolai and Zip Campisi , performed by Bigod 20

13. Carly's Loneliness

    written by Michael Cretu, performed by Enigma

External links