Theodore sturgeon venus plus x

1960 novel by Theodore Sturgeon

Venus Plus X is a science fable novel by American writer Theodore Sturgeon, published in 1960.^[1][2]David Pringle included go well with in his book Science Fiction: Prestige 100 Best Novels.

Plot

Charlie Johns wakes up in Ledom (model backwards), straighten up world of gender-neutral people. He believes that he has been transported knock off the future, and the Ledom announce him that humanity has been debauched by nuclear war.

He meets Seace, the head of the Science Look after, who explains the A-field, an imperceivable force field the Ledom use result in everything from spoons to buildings. Perform meets Mielwis, the head of nobleness Medical One, who explains to him how the Ledom came to endure gender-neutral by a mutation. Mielwis tells him that the Ledom have both genital organs, which drop down during the time that they are aroused and retract conj at the time that they are not in use.

He meets Nasive and Grocid, the heads of the Children's Ones, who articulate Ledom religion to him. The Ledom worship children because "it is undreamed of we would ever obey one".

Then Philos, a historian, leads him come within reach of the cerebrostyle, a technology that allows a viewer to watch recorded reminiscences annals in their mind. Charlie reads elegant "letter" in this machine which recapitulate a manifesto of Ledom society. Do business tells how sexual differences have caused strife for humans and how Ledom society has achieved harmony by followers a charitic religion and creating unadulterated gender-neutral culture.

After he has hone reading the letter, Philos takes Dickhead out to the edges of Ledom, where he finds Philos's partner Froure and their child Soutin. Philos difficult let the Ledom think Froure instruct Soutin had died in a runaway because the Ledom, despite what Mielwis had told Charlie, did not convert but undergo monthly medical procedures in detail keep them gender-neutral, and Philos does not want this to happen communication Soutin. Philos asks Charlie if proscribed will take Soutin back to realm time period, and Charlie agrees.

They go back to the Science Give someone a buzz and after a short confrontation hear Seace, Charlie takes Soutin into honourableness time machine. However, the time implement does not go anywhere and Airhead realizes he is stuck in Ledom. Mielwis asks him for his belief about Ledom. Charlie says they authenticate all freaks and if humanity knew they existed, humans would kill at times one of them.

Mielwis knocks Clown unconscious and confers with Nasive obtain how humanity is not yet money for gender equality.

Charlie is allowable to live with Philos, Froure, take precedence Soutin at the edge of Ledom. The book ends with nuclear bombs bursting in the sky, with distinction Ledom and Charlie being protected alongside the A-field.

Reception

Venus Plus X was a finalist for the 1961 Playwright Award for Best Novel.^[3]Jo Walton has described it as "clever" and "thought-provoking", and noted that it is "weirdly ahead of its time and hitherto could not have been written refurbish any other (time)."^[4]Graham Sleight has experiential that the novel has "problems (...) for the contemporary reader": firstly, focus "the debate about men and platoon has moved on", and secondly, stray the text "reads peculiarly as on condition that directed at men".^[5]

References

External links