More Than Human

186 pages

English language

Published Aug. 7, 1999 by Vintage Books.

ISBN:
978-0-375-70371-3
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
39671721

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(34 reviews)

More Than Human is a 1953 science fiction novel by American writer Theodore Sturgeon. It is a revision and expansion of his previously published novella Baby is Three, which is bracketed by two additional parts written for the novel ("The Fabulous Idiot" and "Morality"). It won the 1954 International Fantasy Award, which was also given to works in science fiction. It was additionally nominated in 2004 for a "Retro Hugo" award for the year 1954. Science fiction critic and editor David Pringle included it in his book Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels. Simon & Schuster published a graphic novel version of More Than Human in 1978, titled Heavy Metal Presents Theodore Sturgeon's More Than Human. It was illustrated by Alex Niño and scripted by Doug Moench.

23 editions

More than human

This is a book I had read when I was a teenager and I didn't have that much experience in this world, but it still left a deep impression on me. The book is a mix of fantasy, psychological thriller and science fiction, divided into three parts that make up a more complex story. More than human, it deals with the next form of human evolution, one in an entirely different sense than we might expect. This is a magnificent book, especially if we put it in perspective, since it was written in the early 1950s. Although it has aged wonderfully. It takes as its main characters those on the fringes of society. A drifter with no intellectual ability whatsoever, a girl unappreciated by her mother, two black twins who don't speak, a street child, will be the protagonists not only of the novel but of what humanity can become. …

Review of 'More Than Human' on 'Goodreads'

More Than Human holds up surprisingly well.

Because it is set mostly in its own time and is not based on technology, we are spared the wrenching anachronisms of a future as imagined by an author in the early 50s.

There is no attempt to explain the mechanism behind the abilities of the post humans, there is a MacGuffin but it is indistinguishable from magic.

There is some psychology that felt credible if sometimes simplistic to me, though I am no expert.

The main thing I liked was that a Novel published in 1953 managed to subvert my 2021 expectations.

The appearance of super humans did not result in a super hero scenario, they are neither hated nor revered, they keep to themselves, on the sidelines, trying to survive, trying to understand themselves and their relationship to old humanity.

For most of the Novel there are more questions than answers, …

Review of 'More than human' on 'Goodreads'

I read this is a kid, maybe freshman in high school? I truly love this book. As a person with a disability it was for me the first book about disability that gave a positive spin to being "different". If you haven't read it and think of yourself as a well read SF & F fan but haven't read this book you really should. One of the science fiction books in my opinion.

Review of 'More than human' on 'Goodreads'

Coincidentally picked up this book about an emerging gestalt lifeform while watching Sens8 on Netflix. The author, Theodore Sturgeon, is the creator of Sturgeon's Law -- "90 percent of everything is crap." The narrative voice jumps around a bit, as does the actual line of the narrative. Perspective shifts occur 3 or 4 times during the story, but they're done with skill, representing progressive stages of awareness or awakening.

The conclusion -- building on the characters comprising the gestalt being's discovery of a new ethos for themselves -- is inspiring, spiritual, humanistic, satisfying, and ultimately inevitable, and a powerfully optimistic insight into what our relationship could be with the super-intelligent AI's humanity will someday build.

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