2026 Reading Challenge
The Man Who Fell to Earth

Questions About The Man Who Fell to Earth

by Walter Tevis

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Answered Questions (5)

Does anyone know about the publication history of this book? My edition was printed in 1986 and copyright is shown as 1963. There are allusions to Watergate and coverups. I'd like to find out how much Tevis might have revised the text. Anybody know? Thanks.
Kenneth Lynch Looked at my 1963 edition, The "Gold Medal Original" Published by Frederick Muller Limited London. By arrangement with Fawcett Publications Inc. Chapt…moreLooked at my 1963 edition, The "Gold Medal Original" Published by Frederick Muller Limited London. By arrangement with Fawcett Publications Inc. Chapter 8 last paragraph page 121 had the following " ...1976 is an election year. The President is already campaigning for a second term ... did you know that the President uses us, in the CIA, to spy on the other party? - that the Republicans are going to turn this whole business into something like the Dreyfus case" No mention of Watergate in the original.(less)
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Quote from near the End of Chapter Eight: "... did you know that Watergate changed nothing - nothing - the President uses us, in the CIA, to spy on the other party? ...." Wondering if this - although I don't know how - is in other editions? or when it started appearing?
BoBandy I could not have been added by him in 1999 because he was dead.

The Del Rey Impact paperback edition says the book was copyrighted 1963 by Tevis and r…moreI could not have been added by him in 1999 because he was dead.

The Del Rey Impact paperback edition says the book was copyrighted 1963 by Tevis and renewed 1991 by his widow.

So either it was updated by the editors for the 1991 copyright, or the copyright notice is incorrect.

Glad I found this question here. It bugged the hell out of me when I read that paragraph.

Can anyone with an earlier edition respond with what the original paragraph said?(less)
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wow, these Q&A's are from 6-7 years ago!! Why is this book is getting so much hype now (un 2022?)
Sarah it's being made into a TV series, started airing april 2022. i haven't seen the show yet, but this might be a rare case of the adaptation being better…moreit's being made into a TV series, started airing april 2022. i haven't seen the show yet, but this might be a rare case of the adaptation being better than the original!(less)
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What the hell mind of ending was that!??
Judith That is what is known (& reviled) as a literary cop out, or a non-ending. "Reading your own thoughts into it" is ludicrous...if I wanted to come up wi…moreThat is what is known (& reviled) as a literary cop out, or a non-ending. "Reading your own thoughts into it" is ludicrous...if I wanted to come up with storylines myself, I would write my own books!! An optimistic view would be that he will get the help he needs from his only 2 friends on earth, but there's nothing to support that or any other ending.(less)
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Does anyone know about adapted "1000 headword level" versions? The version I have says it is Adapted by David Fickling. It is less than 100 pages, which I think is shorter than the original.
Chelsea The original is pretty short (only about 150 pages) but not that short. No idea why they've adapted it further, sorry.…moreThe original is pretty short (only about 150 pages) but not that short. No idea why they've adapted it further, sorry.(less)
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Unanswered Questions (1)

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