Hello Kalanadi. This is Julie Tevis and my father wrote The Man Who Fell to Earth. I saw your review last night, and I wanted to say how spot on you were with the content, its characters, and alcoholism & loneliness as a central themes. Walter Tevis spent many many months as a young child in a hospital in San Francisco being treated for rheumatic heart. He was alone during this time as his family had moved to Kentucky from San Francisco due to the Depression. When released from the hospital he traveled alone to Kentucky to meet up with his family - and so Walter was the man who fell to earth in this sense. Think about how different California and Kentucky are, accents, culture, etc.
I am grateful to your father. He spoke so well through his art. He had a great deal to say, and said it all so clearly and so well. I am sorry he seems to have had a difficult time in life, but I am so touched by what I have learned in reading his works.
I now have this so will read it rather soon. Your analysis of both the book and Tevis with his reasons for writing this to be extremely interesting and definitely helped push this forward beyond it's initial priority.
Totally Agree, I remember watching the Bowie film in the early 2000's and at first not connecting. Then as I became older, and battled alcoholism, I finally understood Thomas Jerome Newton's journey. The book took that even further, I was totally absorbed. Great Book, and Great film.
I read this novel a long time ago and I really enjoyed it. I also read his another book, 'Far from Home'. It was short stories collection, very fun and humorous stories, especialy 'New Dimensions'. It was incredible!
Have you read Mockingbird by the same author? If not you definitely should :-) It's one of my favorite books. EDIT: okey I reached the end of the video right now. Good choice! :-)
I read all 70 of the numbered masterworks series a few years back which included mockingbird, this novel which is actually quite fun, the man who fell to earth was not in the numbered series so I never read it, but it does not sound fun at all
While the drinking in this 1963 novel almost certainly has an autobiographical element, it was also a commonplace of the time, appearing in many contemporary works. For example, take a look at Albee's 1962 play "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf". It is filled with drinking.
Thank you for reminding me how much I love some of the novels of Walter Tevis. In the 70's these books and some of Clark's made me a Science fiction reader for my life. But it spoiled me too and sci fi as good as this is special and can be hard to find. Maybe time for a re read. Also loved Mockingbird but no happy ending there either. The movie of the Man who fell to Earth is one I have not seen in years and with Dave Bowie maybe worth seeing again as well. Thanks for this review. Love watching your channel,
A good analysis. I loved this book and I am currently reading Mockingbird which is excellent. Tevis does seem to channel his own vices and demons into his works. Let's not forget the great masterpiece "The Hustler" with the legendary Paul Newman which was based on Tevis' book. A tale about an alcoholic pool hustler who lives with an alcoholic woman whilst preparing for the money match of a lifetime. You have great taste and you are a sweet girl so consider me subscribed!
I'm still reading this book, but I love watching your reviews first. When you said about that there is no happy ending, I was expecting to see some comments about the Icarus metaphor, since the book is divided in his descending and drowning. What do you think about?
😍 yay a book review. This one made me wonder about Tevis' first sentence, first paragraph, first page. I think you're right about sensing a lot from the get-go. The process of learning how to write a good first sentence might be as important studying plot structure.
The first and the last sentence (and knowing when to stop!) are so important. Sometimes I am surprised at the utterly ordinary first sentences and opening scenes in amazing books. You never know.
I think your review overlooks some of the nuance and structural devices Tevis uses to get the reader to associate feelings with some of the story's characters. He does an excellent job as a writer drawing the reader into the Tommy's life. What does this story ultimately say about humanity? And the elevator scene where he meets Mary Jo? Why doesn't he meet Mary Jo as a hotel cleaner instead? The drinking scenes are consistent but I wouldn't park my whole review on that aspect of the story. All the best.
I liked the observation that a lot of SF books of the period had a real problem with hooking one with the writing. As a kid, I remember skipping the first 20 or so pages of many books, and starting reading where the action started, and going back and reading the first part once I was engaged in the story. I started reading adult science fiction and fantasy when I was about ten, which would have been 1963. The alcoholism in the story may have echoed the author's own demons, but alcoholism was rampant in the white-collar and military officer culture of the time. Yes, it was self-medication. You couldn't admit you had a problem, or you would lose your job. You covered for your fellows, because they were in the same boat. You couldn't seek psychological help because people would think you were nuts, and in the case of the military, seeking counselling would be reason to remove your security clearance, which would end your career. I started reading the book many years ago, but made it only half way through because I found it so depressing. Maybe I should pick it up again.
Thank you for reviewing this book. I'm new to sci-fi and currently trying to explore this SF Masterworks series. I like their book cover but some of it are really bland especially the reissue where they recycled old cover and tinted it.
Yes, some of the SF Masterwork covers are pretty bad! Usually I'm mostly annoyed when the text inside isn't reset, but is instead a facsimile of a blurry old version. Never sure why some are redone and others aren't. There are some real gems in the line though.
Hello Kalanadi. This is Julie Tevis and my father wrote The Man Who Fell to Earth. I saw your review last night, and I wanted to say how spot on you were with the content, its characters, and alcoholism & loneliness as a central themes. Walter Tevis spent many many months as a young child in a hospital in San Francisco being treated for rheumatic heart. He was alone during this time as his family had moved to Kentucky from San Francisco due to the Depression. When released from the hospital he traveled alone to Kentucky to meet up with his family - and so Walter was the man who fell to earth in this sense. Think about how different California and Kentucky are, accents, culture, etc.
Dear Julie did your father ever see the movie and if so what did he think of it
I am grateful to your father. He spoke so well through his art. He had a great deal to say, and said it all so clearly and so well. I am sorry he seems to have had a difficult time in life, but I am so touched by what I have learned in reading his works.
Bollox I'm Julie tevis. And my father wrote it
Would love you so much to read The Soul Gene. I promise you'll love it. (Tevis is amazing. Also wrote Queen's Gambit and the Hustler and others...)
It's a long time since I read this and enjoyed it. Just thought about it last night and was looking for an audiobook of the book :-)
I now have this so will read it rather soon. Your analysis of both the book and Tevis with his reasons for writing this to be extremely interesting and definitely helped push this forward beyond it's initial priority.
Totally Agree, I remember watching the Bowie film in the early 2000's and at first not connecting. Then as I became older, and battled alcoholism, I finally understood Thomas Jerome Newton's journey. The book took that even further, I was totally absorbed. Great Book, and Great film.
I'd also recommend 'The Queen's Gambit'. Not sci-fi, but another great exploration of loneliness and addiction by Tevis.
I read this novel a long time ago and I really enjoyed it. I also read his another book, 'Far from Home'. It was short stories collection, very fun and humorous stories, especialy 'New Dimensions'. It was incredible!
Have you read Mockingbird by the same author? If not you definitely should :-) It's one of my favorite books.
EDIT: okey I reached the end of the video right now. Good choice! :-)
I read all 70 of the numbered masterworks series a few years back which included mockingbird, this novel which is actually quite fun, the man who fell to earth was not in the numbered series so I never read it, but it does not sound fun at all
I liked the book but the ending was kind of demonic the way he became blind. what do you think?
While the drinking in this 1963 novel almost certainly has an autobiographical element, it was also a commonplace of the time, appearing in many contemporary works. For example, take a look at Albee's 1962 play "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf". It is filled with drinking.
Thank you for reminding me how much I love some of the novels of Walter Tevis. In the 70's these books and some of Clark's made me a Science fiction reader for my life. But it spoiled me too and sci fi as good as this is special and can be hard to find. Maybe time for a re read. Also loved Mockingbird but no happy ending there either. The movie of the Man who fell to Earth is one I have not seen in years and with Dave Bowie maybe worth seeing again as well. Thanks for this review. Love watching your channel,
When I saw the movie back in the 70s, it made me think of Space Oddity. The main characters embodied by Bowie in the song & movie are so lost.
Mockingbird is really good .
A good analysis. I loved this book and I am currently reading Mockingbird which is excellent. Tevis does seem to channel his own vices and demons into his works. Let's not forget the great masterpiece "The Hustler" with the legendary Paul Newman which was based on Tevis' book. A tale about an alcoholic pool hustler who lives with an alcoholic woman whilst preparing for the money match of a lifetime. You have great taste and you are a sweet girl so consider me subscribed!
I'm still reading this book, but I love watching your reviews first. When you said about that there is no happy ending, I was expecting to see some comments about the Icarus metaphor, since the book is divided in his descending and drowning. What do you think about?
😍 yay a book review. This one made me wonder about Tevis' first sentence, first paragraph, first page. I think you're right about sensing a lot from the get-go. The process of learning how to write a good first sentence might be as important studying plot structure.
The first and the last sentence (and knowing when to stop!) are so important. Sometimes I am surprised at the utterly ordinary first sentences and opening scenes in amazing books. You never know.
I've read and enjoyed this novel. It is indeed sad and lonesome like so many lives.
I read Mockingbird many years ago and really enjoyed it. It explores themes of language, reading and books so you might enjoy it too :)
That sounds really good! I am always interested in SF that deals with language and books!
I think your review overlooks some of the nuance and structural devices Tevis uses to get the reader to associate feelings with some of the story's characters. He does an excellent job as a writer drawing the reader into the Tommy's life. What does this story ultimately say about humanity? And the elevator scene where he meets Mary Jo? Why doesn't he meet Mary Jo as a hotel cleaner instead? The drinking scenes are consistent but I wouldn't park my whole review on that aspect of the story. All the best.
I liked the observation that a lot of SF books of the period had a real problem with hooking one with the writing. As a kid, I remember skipping the first 20 or so pages of many books, and starting reading where the action started, and going back and reading the first part once I was engaged in the story. I started reading adult science fiction and fantasy when I was about ten, which would have been 1963.
The alcoholism in the story may have echoed the author's own demons, but alcoholism was rampant in the white-collar and military officer culture of the time. Yes, it was self-medication. You couldn't admit you had a problem, or you would lose your job. You covered for your fellows, because they were in the same boat. You couldn't seek psychological help because people would think you were nuts, and in the case of the military, seeking counselling would be reason to remove your security clearance, which would end your career.
I started reading the book many years ago, but made it only half way through because I found it so depressing. Maybe I should pick it up again.
Nice review Rachel
Read the book many years ago. Loved it.
What's your take on the movie version? I'm seeking this novel out, too.
I've not read it yet, but the film's good.
Thank you for reviewing this book. I'm new to sci-fi and currently trying to explore this SF Masterworks series. I like their book cover but some of it are really bland especially the reissue where they recycled old cover and tinted it.
Yeah, I was not thaat impressed by Tau Zero
Yes, some of the SF Masterwork covers are pretty bad! Usually I'm mostly annoyed when the text inside isn't reset, but is instead a facsimile of a blurry old version. Never sure why some are redone and others aren't. There are some real gems in the line though.
@@Kalanadi Is this one okay? I mean the paper quality and font?
Rachel, you have great insight. But I don't think I'll read this one.
strange but i think i will read that book
The Queen's Gambit is his best book but the Color of money is close.
If I had 3 sci friends or 3 friends in general, please be like you. To manyvlightvweights now a days
Brilliant book... I wonder if Elon Musk read it?
Howcome you're not a fan of sex scenes? also have you seen the show? BLEW ME AWAY