Reviews

The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis

sittingwishingreading's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

avilareads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Absolutely loved this book and the fact that they casted David Bowie in the movie might be the most perfect casting in cinematic history!!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma

flrnz's review against another edition

3.0

Walter Tevis schreibt nicht nur Bücher über Schachspielende Damen, sondern auch Science Fiction. Scheinbar sogar hauptsächlich. Das hier war mein erster Tevis. Hat mich aber mit gemischten Gefühlen zurück gelassen.

Kann dieses Buch schwer beurteilen. Die Hauptfigur war unsympathisch, manche Handlung nicht nachvollziehbar. Aber dennoch liest es sich flüssig. Liegt wohl auch daran dass es auch verdammt kurz ist.

Die Welt der 80er aus der Sicht der 60er ist vermutlich eher dem Retro Futurismus zuzuordnen. Aber von der Welt bekommt man gar nicht soviel mit, leider.

Beizeiten werde ich mir dann Mal den Film mit David Bowie anschauen.

Alles in allem: 3,5/5 .... Oder 7/10.

pynkpanic's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

I started off really enjoying this Book, i was so excited about it and then every character just turned into a sad Self-insert of the alcoholic author with a dash of ignorance of other countries and cultures and some really questionable Word-choices. Plus the way he describes women feels like he thought he was being really modern and cool but it just feels nasty.
Still enjoyed the premise and some character Elements and other choices though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

voodoochild's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

hadeanstars's review against another edition

4.0

A wonderful, classic sci-fi, of the rather old-fashioned sort that is both quaint and antiquated. It is wonderful to compare the future envisionings of authors of the past and check them for accuracy. Here we see technological advancements that do not make the leap into a digital format. Self-developing analogue film, small metal spheres containing music, and then everything else remains the same. It is all rather sweet. An easy and enjoyable read.

hooksforeverything's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

4.0

What we do to our saviours, regularly. 

_felinefatale's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

toc's review against another edition

3.0

Everyone knows the David Bowie movie. But if you haven't read the book then you don't know the story. And you want to know the story. `Nuff said!

darkskybooks's review against another edition

4.0

An intriguing if ultimately extremely pessimistic view on the human condition. The idea of an alien coming to earth and using their superior technology as a patent farm to raise funding is an intriguing one. Innovation and technology are an important area of the sci-fi genre and this is a good example of the near future part of that genre. The technologies are fascinatingly realised, believable in their conception. In this one however we see the fears and paranoias of humanity come to its fore, the tendency to lose oneself to ones vices. The premise of the corruption of human society is well done and intriguingly presented. Ultimately humanity is projected onto the alien and some of the worst aspects of it end up being imprinted.

Clever and cerebral sci-fi, definitely worth a read!