The Man Who Fell to Earth - Walter Tevis

The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis / ISBN 9781399607827 / 191-page paperback (first published in 1963) from Orion's SF Masterworks series

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‘Beautiful science fiction’ – New York Times

‘This is one of the finest science fiction novels of its period’ – J.R. Dunn

‘Tevis writes . . . with power and poetry and tension’ – Washington Post

Thomas Jerome Newton is an extraterrestrial from the planet Anthea, which has been devastated by a series of nuclear wars, and whose inhabitants are twice as intelligent as human beings.

When he lands on Earth – in Kentucky, disguised as a human – it’s with the intention of saving his own people from extinction. Newton patents some very advanced Anthean technology, which he uses to amass a fortune. He begins to build a spaceship to help the last 300 Antheans migrate to Earth.

Meanwhile, Nathan Bryce, a chemistry professor in Iowa, is intrigued by some of the new products Newton’s company brings to the market, and already suspects Newton of being an alien.

As Bryce and the FBI close in, Newton finds his own clarity and sense of purpose diminishing.

Inspiring two films adaptations, The Man Who Fell To Earth brought Walter Tevis wide recognition and critical acclaim. It was nominated for the Hugo award, and the 1976 film was nominated for the Nebula, Saturn and Hugo awards.