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ivyshack 's review for:
The Man Who Fell to Earth
by Walter Tevis
*"He stared at himself a long time, and then he began to cry. He did not sob, but tears came from his eyes—tears exactly like a human's tears—and slid down his narrow cheeks. He was crying in despair.
Then he spoke aloud, to himself, in English. 'Who are you?' he said. 'And where do you belong?'
His own body stared back at him; but he could not recognize it as his own. It was alien, and frightening."*(pg. 115)
In a setting where humanity is so clearly doomed, Tevis asks what makes us human and whether humanity is worth salvaging. A bleak and saddening read that tackles some big issues without being too dark. Note that I said "saddening" and not "depressing".
Read this if you love sci-fi because of it's capacity to explore big political or social ideas and not a fantasical setting with wild plot elements. On some level, this made me think of Brave New World if it wasn't set in a Brave New World, just a retro-futuristic idea of 80s America, which strays little from 2020s America. Also if you're a Bowie fan like me, you'll find the parallels in Bowie's career and body of work intriguing.
I found it an enjoyable read but it's not one that I'm crazy about. I read this at the right time in my life, where I'm taking an interest in scientific ambition in regards to its sociological consequences. My only real gripe, and perhaps this is a mild spoiler, is that I did not find the implication of hope to be earned. Some authors try too hard to manufacture some semblance of a happy ending.
Man, it feels good to have finished a great book for once.
Then he spoke aloud, to himself, in English. 'Who are you?' he said. 'And where do you belong?'
His own body stared back at him; but he could not recognize it as his own. It was alien, and frightening."*(pg. 115)
In a setting where humanity is so clearly doomed, Tevis asks what makes us human and whether humanity is worth salvaging. A bleak and saddening read that tackles some big issues without being too dark. Note that I said "saddening" and not "depressing".
Read this if you love sci-fi because of it's capacity to explore big political or social ideas and not a fantasical setting with wild plot elements. On some level, this made me think of Brave New World if it wasn't set in a Brave New World, just a retro-futuristic idea of 80s America, which strays little from 2020s America. Also if you're a Bowie fan like me, you'll find the parallels in Bowie's career and body of work intriguing.
I found it an enjoyable read but it's not one that I'm crazy about. I read this at the right time in my life, where I'm taking an interest in scientific ambition in regards to its sociological consequences. My only real gripe, and perhaps this is a mild spoiler, is that I did not find the implication of hope to be earned. Some authors try too hard to manufacture some semblance of a happy ending.
Man, it feels good to have finished a great book for once.