Six misfits, one powerful entity. An award-winning novel about belonging by “one of the greatest writers of science fiction and fantasy who ever lived” (Stephen King). Individually, they are a seemingly simpleminded young man living in the woods who can read the thoughts of others, a runaway girl with telekinetic powers, twin girls who can barely speak but can teleport across great distances, and … across great distances, and an infant with a mind like a supercomputer. Together, they are the Gestalt—a single extraordinary being comprised of remarkable parts—although an essential piece may be missing . . .
But are they the next stage in human development or harbingers of the end of civilization? The answer may come when they are joined by Gerry. Powerfully telepathic, he lacks a moral compass—and his hatred of the world that has rejected him could prove catastrophic.
Winner of the International Fantasy Award and considered Theodore Sturgeon’s masterpiece, More Than Human is a genre-bending wonder that explores themes of responsibility and morality, individuality, and belonging. Moving and suspenseful, lyrical and provocative, the novel was one of the first to elevate science fiction into the realm of literature, and inspired musicians and artists, including the Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
From the Nebula Award–winning author of Godbody, The Dreaming Jewels, and other great works of science fiction, this is an unforgettable reading experience and a must for anyone who enjoys Ramsey Campbell, Robert Silverberg, or Philip José Farmer.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Theodore Sturgeon including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the University of Kansas’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library and the author’s estate, among other sources.
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This is one of my favorite, classic SF books. It was published in the ’50s and has “aged” very well. The story consists of three major sections and describes how a small group of people with extraordinary mental powers come together to form a human gestalt – something more than human. Someone, I cannot remember who, said the recurring theme of much of Sturgeon’s work was love, its may forms (beautiful and perverse), the different ways it is expressed (gentleness and violence) and the power love or the lack of love has to drive people to act. Sturgeon’s emphasis on exploring love from different angles is certainly true of More Than Human. Definitely Recommended.
This tale about a group of people with supernatural powers is a masterpiece in novel writing. The characters are utterly believable. As is the strange storyline that follows the story of an idiot, a dysfunctional girl, a baby that never grows, twin girls that can appear anywhere they want but cannot speak, and a disturbed young man with abilities so powerful he dare not use them.
When the idiot draws them all together and forms a Gestalt community the world is changed forever.
This is a moving, emotional, and scary book full of questions about the future of humanity and how mankind could progress if we harnessed all of our potential.
It can be difficult to understand at first as the chapters don’t seem to relate but the story unfolds and finally starts to make sense later. It is a more difficult read because of this but still is good
This book is an absolute MUST READ for anyone who claims to be a science fiction fan. It’s timeless–just as relevant today as it was in 1953. I read it in grad school and loved it, then reread it a few times, and just finished it again last night.
On your first reading, parts may seem nonsensical, randomly placed, but they are not–everything will blesh in the end.
It’s neat to look back at other authors who’ve been so clearly influenced by this book…Heinlein, Butler, Vonnegut, even Stephen King… You must read this book, it’s part of the foundation of speculative fiction, IMO.
More Than Human
by Theodore Sturgeon
I read this when I was a teen, some 40+ years ago. I can’t say I remember anything about it from then but I read almost all his books out at the time. This was nice to revisit to see if it jogged any memories but it didn’t. I have too many past books stored up there! Lol! Many must have been reshelved.
The story is about a variety of children who have odd gifts and sometimes physical quirks that make them freaks to most.
I enjoyed how the author followed each character and the reader got to learn about each one and their gift. Then showed how they meshed together. This was very character driven! Janie was my favorite although the twins were pretty amazing!
Some of the first parts were a bit slow but it picked up.
I like quirky stories.
Incredible story about a group of misfits, with all the pain that entails, meeting and ‘bleshing’ to become the next step in human evolution: homo gestalt. Four segments in wildly different narrative styles, all masterfully done.
Must read master work of Science Fiction.
A gorgeously written and very moving science fiction novel by one of the greats in the field.
A step forward in human evolution…multi individual beings…well…It IS Theodore Sturgeon. Of course it’s good.
A very good read, Sturgeon’s swansong answer to other writer’s who used the SF medium to explore the human psyche.
All evolutionary changes start small. But what would be the baby steps of the next type of human? Does it have to start with perfect people? Or could they be ordinary Joes (or even sub-par?) And how would you know whether you ever “get there?”
A tightly woven plot is accompanied by sometimes incredible prose. I remember the line about the color only achieved by marmalade and stained glass from when
I read this book as a teen. The story has been haunting me for forty years. Now I find I had forgotten (or failed to understand) the ending!
How might evolution be continuing right under our noses
This is a classic. Dont expect the latest trendyness. I first read this book almostn30 years ago. Theodore Sturgeon is good at empathic, poetic tension.
Boring
Not recommended.
This one goes into the random old school sci fi book I bought because the audiobook was cheap. But whoa it was interesting.
It was like “Sense8” and an “Octavia Butler hive mind” type of book. I wonder if Octavia Butler had read this at all before she started her own books.
It was a dated, referring to black people as colored, but I still loved how the author dealt with race.
If I was a movie director or animator, I’d make this into an updated movie. I loved the black twin girls who could appear and disappear at will.
I’ll definitely read more from this author.
As others have stated, this is early classic science fiction akin to Asimov and Heinlein. Sturgeon explores human boundaries and how we fit into societies, while postulating where next we might grow as a species. While a bit dated, it is fascinating to look back and see where forward thinkers of the time had projected human development would go. I was fascinated by the story and the sum is greater than the parts theory. I can see this would have been mind expanding in an earlier time, while more just quaintly entertaining now. Enjoyable read and definitely a must for sci fi fans.
Very dark and hard to read. Had to give up on it, which is very disappointing since I am an avid sci-fi fan and a writer myself. I simply can’t handle Mr. Sturgeon’s world view.
This is a classic of science fiction. I would recommend it to any one who enjoys the genre.