|
|
| Plot Summary of Stelzer's Travels |
|---|
"In keeping with its namesake, “Gulliver's Travels,” my book takes the reader to a foreign shore and there provides him with an exotic tale coupled with political commentary. As opposed to Swift's satirical bent, however, the book's essay material is meant to be constructive.
The plot focuses on David Stelzer, the book's middle-aged protagonist, who had been leading a staid life as a real estate broker until encountering nineteen-year-old Neuman, a radicalized, intensely religious, and slightly mad Hebrew school teacher. Thanks to Neuman's stratagems, the two unlikely companions rendezvous with a spaceship that takes them to Luxenben, a utopian planet. Upon their arrival, Stelzer is interned in a zoological garden devoted to intelligent species acquired from all over the galaxy. Once he accustoms himself to his fellow inmates' varied physiologies, the adaptable man finds his circumstances surprisingly agreeable. He is comfortably quartered, well fed, befriended by the staff, allowed access to the garden's many cultural amenities, and assigned no duty other than acting hospitably to the zoo's native visitors. Stelzer's only concern is that Neuman has unaccountably dropped out of sight. When Neuman's disappearance is eventually explained and the two humans reunited, Stelzer is confronted with a deeper mystery that is not resolved until the very end of the book.
While searching for Neuman, Stelzer has the opportunity to observe the planet's harmonious culture and gain an understanding of the underlying philosophy that makes it work. Despite their being as emotionally immature as we human beings, the Luxanders have managed to achieve a workable, sustainable civilization thanks to their adherence to a scientifically valid system of beliefs. Upon these beliefs they have built a coherent set of political, economic, and social institutions each of which is elaborated upon. "
Dan Hurwitz, Resident Scholar
|
|
Get your copy of the book
| Review Analysis of Stelzer's Travels |
|---|
|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 50%
Tone of book
- humorous or laughable
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture
Yes
Culture clash-
- feelings of a human growing up among aliens
Intense exploration of society's culture?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- business executive
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- religious figure
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Dan Hurwitz Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Dan Hurwitz
SCHOLARS:
| |
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Norah Lofts
6:49:46 PM
Suzanne Weyn
10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush
5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Anonymous
12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino
10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer
10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls
10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan
9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi
9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine
9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington
9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody
9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden
9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn
9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen
9:55:24 PM
More message boards
|
