Odd John
Olaf Stapledon · 1935 · Novel
It was a foundational work exploring the emergence of super-intelligent, psychic mutants who form a collective, challenging the very definition of humanity and societal norms, influencing later works on evolved consciousness.
What it is
This novel introduces John, a 'supernormal' child with advanced intellect and nascent psychic abilities, who eventually seeks out other supernormals to form a collective, isolated society. It explores the themes of human evolution, the limitations of 'normal' humanity, and the potential for a new, unified consciousness.
↑Inherited from
This work originated its idea. No known prior influences in the dataset.
↓Passed on to(2)
Clarke's 'Childhood's End' shares thematic elements of humanity evolving into a collective consciousness guided by a 'superior' race, echoing Stapledon's supernormals.
Sturgeon's 'More Than Human' directly explores the formation of a 'gestalt' or group mind composed of individuals with various psychic talents, a concept heavily prefigured in 'Odd John'.