Venus Plus X

by Theodore Sturgeon

First published 1979

Charlie Johns lives an unremarkable life in twentieth century America until the Ledom arrive. They transport him against his will to what appears to be a perfect future world. This society has eliminated the ancient conflict between men and women by creating something entirely new. The Ledom have achieved complete unisex existence, building a peaceful civilization without traditional gender divisions. Charlie struggles to understand whether this strange new world represents paradise or nightmare. The community seems harmonious on the surface, but Charlie discovers that not everyone accepts the Ledom way of life. A solitary outsider holds dangerous knowledge about the Ledom's true nature and their specific intentions for Charlie. As Charlie learns more about this genderless society, he must confront fundamental questions about human identity and the price of utopia.

Genres: fiction, science-fiction, 20th-century, alternate-universe

Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: fish-out-of-water

Period: Twentieth Century

218 pages · Paperback · Dell Publishing Co., Inc

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