"More Than Human" First Impressions * No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come share your first impressions of this classic bit of scifi!

Please leave anything detailed about the story, plot, characters and so on for the full spoiler thread.

[Jeff]

I haven't started it yet, but am excited to.

I was just looking at a wikipedia list of "Fix-up" novels (a novel made up of several short stories) and was thinking I wanted to read one next - and this comes along. Plus, I already own it in my kindle library. I'll start it next week.

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

I thought it was good but not great. The audio narrators were quite good.

[Anat]

The mass of text and archaic prose was a challenge (for me) and I was mostly confused, but it was interesting and I liked a lot of the ideas.

[Sebastian]

I've just read the first 20 pages and I'm very impressed. The beginning reminds me a bit of Benjy's chapter in The Sound and the Fury.

[Casey]

One of the best first paragraphs I've ever read. The novel slows down rapidly then picks up again as the story becomes more intricate and intricate, everything gradually connecting. I'm near the end and enjoying it immensely. In see why it won awards.

[Cheryl]

I seem to remember it, but as a short story or novelette? I know a lot of times authors did expand successful ideas that had been in magazines, into books (still do, ie Stone Weta), so maybe?

I won't get to it right away but look forward to it.

[DivaDiane]

Gabi said the middle part was a novelette first.

[Clyde]

Very early into this read (20%) and am struggling to follow. Agree with Anat on the archaic prose. This type of writing is a first for me but I will not give up.

[Anthony]

Just started it. It’s my first experience reading Sturgeon (although I’m familiar with his work on Star Trek), and I’m very impressed by his confident, florid style.

[Dawn F]

Also just started it, though I'm just thirty minutes in. This is very different than The Dreaming Jewels for sure, but he's definitely got an interesting style, a mix of the ethereal beauty and brutal bluntness. I really have to pay attention to what's going on XD

[QueenAmidala28]

Just started it. Excited to discuss it!

[DivaDiane]

I'm sorry about that @QueenAmidala28 .

[David]

I read this about 20 years ago when I was going through his collected stories. I remember thinking that while it was good it wasn't as good as his shorter narratives. I read the first chapter this morning, and thought it was amazing. I especially the character choices and theme.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Started it today!

[Montzalee]

Finished it today! Nothing like the last minute!
I read this when I was a teen, some 40+ years ago. I can't say I remember anything about it from then but I read almost all his books out at the time. This was nice to revisit to see if it jogged any memories but it didn't. I have too many past books stored up there! Lol! Many must have been reshelved.
The story is about a variety of children who have odd gifts and sometimes physical quirks that make them freaks to most.
I enjoyed how the author followed each character and the reader got to learn about each one and their gift. Then showed how they meshed together. This was very character driven! Janie was my favorite although the twins were pretty amazing!
Some of the first parts were a bit slow but it picked up.

[Marc]

I remember reading this story when I was young and found it very depressing. Years later I picked it up and had no problem with it at all. Interesting mirror into my own psyche I guess.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Montzalee, can you please move your comment to the spoilers thread linked in the first post?