Synopsis
Jommy and Kathleen are “Slans”, people who have changed to have super powers including mind reading. Kier Gray and John Petty are working with the government to dispose of the slans. John Petty wants the political power that Kier has. Jommy searches for what his father told him to find when he was old enough.
History
First publication: Astounding, serialized September to December 1940
The first Astounding “Nova” serial.
1941 RetroHugo winner for best novel.
Review
Very much a story about prejudice and the wish to destroy anything that is different. Also a “Hero’s Journey” story and possibly inspiration for Star Wars. This is very much classic SF and shows it’s debt to early space opera with all of the Super Science. Otherwise it is an excellent exploration of the psychology of those who are outsiders and wish to be something more. You can see why it has been so popular with SF fans. This is not “literate” in the way that New Wave novels are, but it does push forward the SF genre and carries on in the tradition of Wells. The story moves along really well—I couldn’t put it down! Recommended to all fans of the best SF, especially if you like the Golden Age or love superheroes.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
Slan, paperback, Berkley, 1982-11-00
Astounding Science-Fiction, December 1940, edited by John W. Campbell, Jr., magazine, Street & Smith, 1940-12-00
Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1940, edited by John W. Campbell, Jr., magazine, Street & Smith, 1940-09-00
Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1940, edited by John W. Campbell, Jr., magazine, Street & Smith, 1940-10-00
Astounding Science-Fiction, November 1940, edited by John W. Campbell, Jr., magazine, Street & Smith, 1940-11-00
All of the stories in the Slan series:
1 Slan
2 Slan Hunter
