The Synthetic Man (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Theodore Sturgeon
- First Published: 1950
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction—superbeing
- Time of Work: The 1940’s
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction
- Subjects: Abused persons, Extrasensory perception or powers, 1940’s, Adoption or adopted children, Circuses or carnivals, Stepfamily, Aliens, space
- Locales: Solar system
The Plot
At the age of eight, Horton “Horty” Bluett is a lonely, unhappy adopted child whose best friend is Junky, a crudely made jack-in-the-box with strange-looking jewels for eyes. His sadistic stepfather, Armand Bluett, subjects the boy to relentless psychological and physical abuse, on one occasion cutting off three of his fingers by slamming a closet door on his hand. Horty decides to run away, taking Junky with him.
Horty says good-bye to a little neighbor girl named Kay Hallowell, the only person who has ever shown him any kindness. He steals a ride aboard a...
[The entire page is 970 words long]
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