It's 2135, and Earth is ruled by a coalition of 6,000 "New Men" (mutants with hugely increased brain capabilities) and 4,000 "Unusuals" (individuals of more normal intellection but ESP powers). Nick Appleton, a humble tire regroover (he carves new treads in old used tires so they can be resold), hopes his son Bobby will test high enough to qualify for training as a New Man.
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Willis Gram, Council Chairman of the Extraordinary Committee for Public Safety, oversees the control of society, but also worries about his messy divorce proceedings and the potential return of Thors Provoni, a rebel who escaped Sol System in an old space ship many years ago in search of more intelligent life. As Nick and Willis chart a collision course over the nature of their society (including their mutual attraction to a canny gutter waif named "Charley"/Charlotte), Provoni approaches Earth accompanied by a Frolixan--a 90-ton gelatinous mass of protoplasmic slime from Frolix 8 that can transform itself into any shape or object, whether inanimate or internal organ, and has unknown, possibly unimaginable, powers. This 1970 novel is one of Dick's stronger efforts.
The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus
