The man who fell to earth

Absurdly human and hauntingly prescient for our times--in other words, good sci-fi.

I love a good science fiction novel. Not because of its space battles. Not because of the inevitable zip-zap flash-crash laser action between good and evil. Not even because of time travelling and parallel universes. (Though I must admit I don't hate those, either.) What fascinates me about science fiction is what they say about real life. Ironically, it is the futuristic setting of science fiction that facilitates close scrutiny of our own society, and Walter Tevis' The Man Who Fell to Earth does exactly that - without including time travel, battles, and laser action - and it does it oh, so well. Why? Read on! The Man Who Fell to Earth is about Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien from the planet Anthea, who decides to fly to Earth in order to save his family. Forced to stay there due to a malfunctioning spacecraft, he adapts himself to American culture. Aided by his advanced scientific knowledge (he establishes a corporation and manages it without ever showing his face), two friends who are aware of his extraterrestrial identity, and copious amounts of alcohol, his life seems to flourish. While Newton is supposed to be an outsider, it is quite uncanny how prolonged exposure to human society makes him almost like everyone else. Almost, but not quite; his body is not used to the Earth's gravity or the alcohol he consumes. It must come as no surprise that his secret is eventually discovered by the Government - and what happens next shows quite clearly what the real differences are between Newton and the people he's trying to resemble. Read the entire review here: http://the-openbook.com/2020/11/16/th...