Synopsis
Theodore Sturgeon vision of mankind's next step.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
Theodore Sturgeon created very human characters with real, intensely observed emotions. More Than Human (1953) is his story of a Gestalt or group mind, not a chilly super-intellect but a painfully assembled band of talented misfits. Lone is telepathic but a literal idiot; Janie, an abused runaway girl, moves things with her mind; Bonnie and Beanie, very young black twins, can teleport; Baby has a computer-like brain and also Downs syndrome.
In part one, this crippled Gestalt is movingly brought together from the wreckage of members' past lives. Part two sees Lone replaced by the psychologically damaged Gerry, a murderer at age eight: he must, agonisingly, confront his reasons for killing the benefactor who cherished them as individuals but menaced the all-important group. (The twins can't eat with the white folks; Baby should go to a home...) Part three artfully echoes the previous sections' long healing of Lone's body and Gerry's mind, with the now-grown Janie defiantly rehabilitating an unfortunate victim of Gerry's misused talents. Although the Gestalt is now tremendously powerful, there's still one important factor missing.
"Does a superman have super-hunger, Gerry? Super-loneliness?"
Sturgeon wrote beautifully, from the famous opening--"The idiot lived in a black and grey world, punctuated by the white lightning of hunger and the flickering of fear."--through moments of great poignancy, and unexpected images, like a starved man seeing marmalade as stained glass. More Than Human won the International Fantasy Award and holds up well today. This is recommended. --David Langford
Review
Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and International Fantasy Awards
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for MORE THAN HUMAN
Stock Image
More Than Human
Published by
Del Rey Books, New York, 1981
ISBN 10: 0345294068
ISBN 13: 9780345294067
Used
Mass-market paperback
Seller: Nelsons Books, Chazy, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Mass-market paperback. Condition: Good. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. Audience: General/trade. clean and tight, light edge wear. Seller Inventory # Alibris.0001410
Stock Image
More Than Human
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Mass Market Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_434895274
Seller Image
More Than Human
Seller: Southampton Books, Sag Harbor, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. FIRST THUS. First Edition Thus, First Printing. Published by Del Rey Books, 1981. 12mo. Paperback. Book is very good with stamps on top/bottom page ends. Covers have some light shelf wear with black marker on front cover. Seller Inventory # 469609