More Than Human

By: Theodore Sturgeon

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison

In this genre-bending novel, among the first to have launched sci fi into literature, a group of remarkable social outcasts band together for survival and discover that their combined powers render them superhuman.

There's Lone, the simpleton who can hear other people's thoughts; Janie, who moves things without touching them; and the teleporting twins, who can travel ten feet or ten miles. There's Baby, who invented an antigravity engine while still in the cradle, and Gerry, who has everything it takes to run the world except for a conscience. Separately, they are talented freaks.

Together, they may represent the next step in evolution - or the final chapter in the history of the human race. As they struggle to find whether they are meant to help humanity or destroy it, Sturgeon explores questions of power and morality, individuality and belonging.

©1981 The Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the best science fiction novels of the year." ( New York Times)
"A quantum leap in the development of science fiction as an art." ( Washington Post)
"A masterpiece of provocative storytelling." ( New York Herald Tribune)

More Than Human

Considered by many to be the best of Sturgeon's opus. Decades ago, when I first read this I imagined the voice of Harlan Ellison reading the second part "Baby is Three". And Stefan Rudnicki is outstanding as well. Thanks audible. Can you get Godbody by Theodore Sturgeon?

Just a classic

I read it 40 years ago and it's still brilliant. Hopefully I'll read it again in another 40 years.

So great I want to listen to it a third time.

I normally listen to books while doing other tasks. There’s so much packed in the story, I had to listen to it twice. I look forward to listening to a third time. Excellent performances, as well.

Captivating.

Loved it. First SciFi book I've read that features telepathy but also my favorite. I can't wait to read the author's other books.

It was ok....

I gotta say I was kinda confused with this story...seemed like it took a long time to get into the meat and answer some questions...bunch of kids all with a differant "gift" individually that when placed together are super smart....the end sort of tied things together.

Excellent!

Has to be one of the best books I've read of all time, insightful, intelligent ,funny, exciting ,mysterious ,heart rending and uplifting .

Dated but still beautiful.

The theme and aspirations of the characters are identifiable to the period in which this was written. How fitting to have Harlan Ellison in for part of the narration. Too sad that the current “ME” generation doesn’t really care about these values today. Unless there is an apocalypse and humans have to start again from scratch, I doubt there will ever be another generation with the innocence this book reflects.

Beautiful words, wonderfully spoken

This book was a wonderfully read by Stefan Rudnicki and the fantastic storyline and beautiful ending was a truly pleasure to listen to, This book was written in the 1950s but stands tall today as a great novel. This coming from someone who isnt a Science Fiction fan. - a wonderful book.

Bleshing with Superhuman Homo Gestalt

Theodore Sturgeon's More than Human is comprised of three parts, the first of which (my favorite) concerns several misfit outcast kids with powers of teleportation, telekinesis, and the like, and a "fabulous idiot." This part is lyrical, strange, humorous, and moving. And Stefan Rudnicki reads it perfectly, with his deep voice and thoughtful inflections. The second part, read with passion and panache by Harlan Ellison, depicts the first person narration of one of the outcast kids who is visiting a psychiatrist to find out who and what he is and why he has done what he has done. Ellison uses a squeaky boy's voice for Gerry, a calm adult voice for Dr. Stern, and appropriate voices for the other people who speak in this part. His reading of the last line, "What the hell is morality, anyway?" is terrifying. In the mostly fascinating third and last part, again read by Rudnicki, Hip Barrows attempts with great difficulty to remember his past far back enough to get over an imposed mental block.

It is interesting to compare Theodore Sturgeon's novel with Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End: Both were published during the Cold War in 1953 and feature the "next" stage of human evolution, but both depict very different ideas about that evolution and hence very different ideas about the nature of humanity and transcendence. More than Human is better written, more moving, more optimistic (almost too much so), and more human, but less sublime than Childhood's End.

Anyway, More than Human is a thought-provoking science fiction classic, well-read by Rudnicki and Ellison.

Great story, 1 poor narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I found the story to be enthralling, an truly interesting take on the next step of human evolution.

What did you like best about this story?

The general story and overarching concept really stretched my imagination. The concept of a gestalt organism is fascinating and is wonderfully explained throughout the story.

Did Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The first and last narrator were fantastic, I believe it was Stefan Rudnicki. Harlan Ellison's voice did not fit his role and was difficult to hear and understand at times.

Was More Than Human worth the listening time?

Yes it was.