The Man Who Fell To Earth was a novel that I randomly picked up in a bookstore, unsure of what it would be about, but interested by it's blurb. As I read through the life of Newton, Bryce, and subsequent other characters, however, it ended up becoming so much more than I had initially anticipated.

I'm not familiar with Tevis' works but I really enjoyed his stylistic writing, which managed to portray so many beautiful ideas throughout the book. The settings felt very atmospheric and each scene always managed to have a specific mood and tone which ran through it in a cozy and comfortable way that made the novel very enjoyable to read.

A specific beauty to this book is the characters and their relationships throughout the story. Each one felt very fleshed out and comprehensive, and each character came with their own flaws and struggles and strengths that made them a fantastic cast to follow throughout the story. Their interwoven conversations and interactions felt so incredibly realistic, emotional, and raw to read through; I loved their dynamics and progression.

In terms of sci-fi novels, I believe this one was excellent in it's execution. Newton's difficulty in adjusting to human life and his constant struggles made him a deep character who I loved to follow, even if his actions were sometimes incomprehensible to me. His dilemma throughout the novel was heart-wrenching. Additionally, I felt like the alien species and the details of the civilisation were well-thought out, and the ways in which the audience slowly learned more about them flowed easily through the story and scenes, rather than being large chunks of exposition being shoved down your throat.

My first read of 2024, and I think it was deserving of my high rating. Lovely read that almost had me in tears by the end of the novel.