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The Man Who Fell to Earth

The Best of the SF Masterworks
By Walter Tevis
Series: S.F. Masterworks
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis follows the story of an alien named Thomas Jerome Newton who arrives on Earth from a distant drought-stricken planet. Using his superior intelligence and technology, he plans to amass wealth to save his home world. In the process, he encounters the complexities and vices of human life, leading to unexpected challenges.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by stories that explore the human condition through the eyes of an alien struggling to understand our world. This science fiction classic weaves together themes of loneliness, ambition, and the isolation inherent in both human and extraterrestrial experiences, offering a poignant reflection on the intricacies of life on Earth.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Thomas Jerome Newton is an extraterrestrial from the planet Anthea, which has been devastated by a series of nuclear wars, and whose inhabitants are twice as intelligent as human beings. When he lands on Earth - in Kentucky, disguised as a human - it's with the intention of saving his own people from extinction.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Thomas Jerome Newton is an extraterrestrial from the planet Anthea, which has been devastated by a series of nuclear wars, and whose inhabitants are twice as intelligent as human beings.

When he lands on Earth - in Kentucky, disguised as a human - it's with the intention of saving his own people from extinction. Newton patents some very advanced Anthean technology, which he uses to amass a fortune. He begins to build a spaceship to help the last 300 Antheans migrate to Earth.

Meanwhile, Nathan Bryce, a chemistry professor in Iowa, is intrigued by some of the new products Newton's company brings to the market, and already suspects Newton of being an alien.

As Bryce and the FBI close in, Newton finds his own clarity and sense of purpose diminishing.

Inspiring adaptations starring David Bowie and Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Man Who Fell to Earth brought Walter Tevis wide recognition and critical acclaim. It was nominated for the Hugo award, and the 1976 film was nominated for the Nebula, Saturn and Hugo awards.

'Beautiful science fiction' - New York Times

'This is one of the finest science fiction novels of its period' - J.R. Dunn

'Tevis writes . . . with power and poetry and tension' - Washington Post

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis is a compelling science fiction story about an extraterrestrial visitor, Newton, whose journey on Earth becomes a poignant metaphor for alienation and existential loneliness. Reviewers have praised the novel for its realistic portrayal of an alien amongst humans, resonating with universal themes of isolation and the human condition. The narrative is lauded for its poetic and tense prose, capturing the tragic force of Newton's experience in a strange land.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399607834

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 December 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Gollancz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 186g

Pages: 208

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction Series: S.F. Masterworks Walter Tevis

About the Author

Walter Tevis was an American novelist and short story writer. Whilst a student at the University of Kentucky, Tevis worked in a pool hall and published a story about the game for an English class. He would later revisit his love for pool in the novels THE HUSTLER (1959) and THE COLOR OF MONEY (1984), both of which would be adapted into multiple award-winning films starring Paul Newman. Among his other works, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1963) and MOCKINGBIRD (1980) are considered masterpieces of science fiction. Tevis died in 1984.

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