Customer Reviews

The New Adam

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Sometimes said to be the `classic' (and perhaps the first) Superman novel, The New Adam attempts to examine seriously and thoughtfully how a man born as the next step in human evolution might cope with a world populated by inferior beings.

Allegedly nine years in the making, The New Adam was first published in 1939 with the help of his wife four years after Stanley's death. She went on to edit/complete and publish many more of his works posthumously in the years that followed. Many of his short stories (including Valley of Dreams, Mad Moon, Redemption Cairn, Lotus Eaters and Parasite Planet) were initially published in early SF pulp magazines like `Astounding" or `Wonder Stories'.

The New Adam is the tale of Edmund Hall, a superman. This superman is no caped crusader fighting for justice though. Rather, he is a dual-brained super-intellect with an IQ so far off the charts that normal human beings appear as Neanderthals next to him.'While the story is fascinating, the book may best be enjoyed as a glimpse into 1930s science fiction writing styles.

NOTE: An excellent companion book to "THE NEW ADAM" book might be `GLADIATOR' by Philip Wylie, which also explores the `superman' concept from a slightly different angle.

-Michael Jaquish, Author
Country Cop Books

There have been numerous science fiction novels dealing with what the next step in human evolution might be like. This one is one of the very best. Unfortunately, it appears to be out of print; perhaps forever. This is a shame for it is one of the most realistic and plausible stories on this subject ever done. Additionally, this novel is very well written, superbly so, and makes for an excellent read.

In this story, our evolved human is born into modern society without anyone knowing his nature. Slowly he realizes the differences between himself and contemporary humans, and therein lies a fascinating story.

There is not much else to tell. If you find this one, buy it! I have been on the lookout for a copy for years. Highly recommended. RJB.