#147. THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH By Walter Tevis

Published : 1963
Pages : 185
Overall Mark : 8/10

Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien from the planet Anthea, an advanced world that has been devastated by a series of nuclear wars. When he lands on Earth, disguised as a human, it’s with the intention of saving his own people from extinction. Patenting advanced Anthean technology, he soon begins to amass the fortune he needs to help his people. But there are some who are suspicious of Newton’s company’s innovative products, and suspect there is more to this man than meets the eye...

WALTER TEVIS (1928-84)
While studying at the University of Kentucky, Tevis worked in a pool hall and published a story about the game for an English class. It was a theme he would later revisit in the novels The Hustler and The Colour of Money, both of which were adapted into Oscar-winning films. Among his other works, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Mockingbird are considered masterpieces of science fiction.

VERDICT
This is an intriguing look at how humanity might treat an alien visitor if they were to come across one. I love the idea that the alien, Newton, decides to try and make money by inventing amazing things, yet doesn’t actually seem to have any plans for his future. The ending is a little bittersweet, but it does give plenty of closure to his predicament and leaves the reader wondering if there have been visitors that we’ve never been told about...