7 Thought-Provoking Books by Theodore Sturgeon

Though people believe Lone is an idiot, he’s actually one of the most gifted people in the world—a man who can infiltrate the minds of others. When he stumbles across a young telekinetic, a genius baby, and pair of teleporting twins, his life of isolation is turned on its head. Gerry Thompson, a visionary sociopath with telekinetic abilities of his own, takes the wayward group of misfits under his wing, uniting them into one super-being. As they come into their collective power, will Gerry's "Gestalt" usher in a new era of humanity—or destroy the world altogether? 

With prose reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s, and profound insight into human loneliness and identity, Sturgeon’s novel won the 1954 International Fantasy Award and was a nominee for the “Retro Hugo.”   

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Godbody's titular character is a Messianic figure whose surprise arrival shakes up a quaint New England town. His preachings touch the hearts of every resident—even the criminals—and open their eyes to a way of living that promises a brighter, more compassionate future. But while he converts many people to his cause, he also earns his share of enemies, and his departure comes far too soon. 

The novel—published in 1986, after Sturgeon's death the year before—may sound like your typical bible parable, but it's far from it. As in all of his work, Sturgeon's philosophical arguments are accompanied by explicit sex scenes that would make any Sunday school teacher blush.   

Sturgeon’s novel debut came in 1950 with The Dreaming Jewels, and later became a contender for the "Retro Hugo." It centers around eight-year-old Horty and his jack-in-the-box sidekick, Junky, after they’ve run away from home. Having spent years in an abusive household, Horty finally gets the slice of childhood paradise he deserves: a carnival refuge that is populated by people as "freakish" as him. The "Maneater” runs the show, though his involvement is a charade that masks his true intentions. Unbeknownst to everyone, he's out to find "dreaming jewels"—space crystals of great power—and there’s a reason he’s let Horty and Junky join his troupe. 

George Smith has spent three short months in a mental institution as punishment for assaulting an Army officer. With his release just around the corner, Dr. Phil is determined to uncover the root of the man's behavior. Once George begins to write his autobiography, per Phil's instructions, Phil begins to understand the source of his patient's madness—a terrible childhood, a tragic love affair, and a disturbing secret. But the more Phil learns about his charge, the more he realizes George is far sicker than he could have ever imagined...

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Classifying Some of Your Blood isn't easy. It’s not science fiction or a vampire novel, per se, but it isn’t a dark psychological thriller either. It’s simply something that is thoroughly—and indisputably—Theodore Sturgeon.

Charlie's average life is forever changed when he's swept into a not-so-average universe. Ledom is light years ahead in terms of its social, technological, and biological developments—which have eradicated pollution, eliminated poverty, and brought a lasting peace. Most incredible of all, however, is Ledom's sexless population in which "male" and "female" do not exist. As an outsider, Charlie is blown away by the differences between this world and his own. But what seems utopic on the surface is actually deeply flawed underneath. Published in 1960, Venus Plus X stands alongside sci-fi novels like The Left Hand of Darkness for its brave commentary on gender dynamics and sexuality.

Once a degenerate without an income, but with plenty of vices, Gurlick is now the most powerful man in the universe. While eating a dinner of stolen trash, he unknowingly consumes the spore of an alien hive mind. As the new host to “Medusa,” Gurlick becomes the puppet of its master plan: to assimilate every Earthly organism into its collective consciousness. Suddenly, Gurlick is presented with the choice to resist Medusa's orders, or become the definitive player in a scheme that will change humanity forever. Sturgeon intersperses Gurlick’s story with vignettes about other characters, painting a portrait of the human race that is well-rounded, but not always flattering.

Sturgeon was most famous for his short stories and novellas, many of which are featured in this collection. The protagonist of “The Man Who Lost the Sea” sees his life flash before his eyes after crash-landing on Mars. “Slow Sculptures”—a Hugo and Nebula Award winner—follows the profound exchange between a disillusioned scientist and his breast cancer patient. Other stories feature a world approaching nuclear annihilation, a deadly romance, and a bulldozer on the warpath. Each is a showcase of Sturgeon’s poeticism and vivid imagination, which helped elevate science fiction to new heights.

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