The Man Who Fell to Earth

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Sometimes the romantic thought that addicts are better attuned to the human condition and society's ills takes hold of me. But I'm pretty sure that's not the case, even though some addicts might have more empathy for those that can't help themselves -- and isn't that basically everybody, to a certain degree? Being an addict confronts oneself with the non-existence of free will, even though some that have conquered their addiction will pin that victory to their moral strengths rather than their changed conditions.

So it is no surprise that lots of reviews of The Man Who Fell to Earth point to the deep humanity of this book, whatever that may mean. And while I agree the novel is still worth reading 60 years after it was first published -- even somewhat of a classic -- I found the portrayal of addiction a bit lacking. Tevis wrote an interesting story, even an original one, but I don't think it is particularly deep or insightful.

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Full review on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten It