William Olaf Stapledon

Odd John William Olaf Stapledon

Odd John (subtitled A Story Between Jest and Earnest) deals with one of the most pervasive questions of science fiction: How will humanity react when confronted with a being of superior intelligence? The narrator is writing a biography of John Wainwright, a mutant who represents the next step of evolution, Homo superior. The narrator begins by describing John's odd appearance, precocious intelligence, and early education. Too disruptive to attend school, "Odd" John masters specific subjects, such as mathematics and biology, as they interest him. When a neighborhood boy beats John, the young prodigy becomes obsessed with two ambitions: to become physically powerful and to "understand his fellow human beings." He attains the first ambition, using his strength to thrash the boy who hurt him.