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The Man Who Fell To Earth - Walter Tevis Book Review

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"The Man Who Fell To Earth"
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Review Summary
Thomas Jerome Newton is an intellignet, lonely alien chosen to be sent to Earth from his dying planet in order to save Earth from its own destruction. While on Earth, he learns to blend in with human culture and becomes a businessman while implementing his plan for humanity. Along the way he makes friends with a good-hearted country woman and a chemical engineer, and in the process finds himself becoming more human than he'd hoped.
Melissa, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of The Man Who Fell To Earth
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - feelings as an alien growing up among humans
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male Alien
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 40's-50's
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Genius
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status: - government investigator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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