Teaser

Thomas Jerome Newton is new in town. In fact, he’s new on this planet. An alien disguised as a man, Newton begins amassing wealth, and gathering together the world’s greatest minds. But what exactly is his plan . . ?

Review

I want to start off by saying how surprised I am that more of the Gollancz SF Masterworks range isn’t available in audiobook format. Yes, there are various other editions of some of the same books available, but not a cohesive collection in the same way that the printed copies exist. Audio is quickly becoming my go-to way of enjoying some of the older classics of science fiction, and I wish more were widely available. Nevertheless, I was happy to find Walter Tevis’ novel available on Audible, and naturally grabbed a copy when I got the chance.

This is one of those classics that is now more famous for its adaptations than for the book itself. There is, of course, the David Bowie film version, and I recently learned of a stage musical starring Michael C. Hall. There was also a TV series a few years ago. I haven’t seen any of those, so beyond knowing I was about to listen to a story about an alien stranded on Earth, I had no idea what to expect. Considering how famous The Man Who Fell to Earth is, and its considerable cinematic legacy, it’s more than a little surprising that that I’ve never seen anyone talking about the book itself.

If you’re in a similar position to that, let me entice you to join me. The Man Who Fell to Earth is easily my favourite audiobook of the year so far. Honestly, I don’t think any of my print reading can match it either.

This is a book of two halves. The first is Jerome’s story of self-discovery. He starts off as a total outsider, intent only on completing his mysterious mission. As the years go by, however, he is slowly seduced by the human world and its many delights. Character-driven books are often a hard sell for me, but Tevis absolutely sells it. Newton is a deep and complex character, and is in no way the same at the novel’s end as he was in those opening chapters. It’s a testament to how much we are shaped by the world around us, and the individuals whose paths we cross along the way.

The other half sees various figures trying to determine Newton’s true motives. Again, Tevis does a masterful job of allowing the tension to slowly creep in. Newton is sympathetic when seeing the world, but when seen in turn there’s a palpable sense of menace to his every action. Perhaps he is the monster some see him as, or perhaps it is only that our impression of the man is colouring the way we act around him. Newton’s story says as much about humanity as it does about his own alien nature.

All this occurs against a backdrop of slowly escalating global tensions. I can’t say for sure if this version was updated after it’s initial publication (there’s a Watergate reference that surely means it was) but even so it is remarkably prophetic. Human nature might not change over time, but we certainly change the world around us, and rarely is that change for the better. As the tensions ratchet up, I was hooked, expecting an explosive finale. That’s not quite what I got, however. As it happens, the books ends on a denouement rather than a climax. There’s a wonderful sense of melancholy hanging over the last chapter that will stick with you long after you’ve finished.

This is pretty far outside my usual reading interests, but I dare say The Man Who Fell to Earth is a near flawless novel. I say near, because there is a slight weird suggestion that Jesus was an alien visitor that never really goes anywhere. But you know what? If dodgy Christian reinvention is the price of admission, I’ll happily pay it. The Man Who Fell to Earth is yet another piece of evidence that 1963 was the single bets year for science fiction, and I’d encourage everyone out there to find a copy in the hopes you’ll enjoy it every but as much as I did.

Audio Stats

• Narrated by David Dawson
• A Standalone Novel
• First Published 1963
• Runtime 6hrs 31mins