About this book
Gladiator by Philip Wylie grabs you from the first line, following Hugo Danner as a man becomes something more than human through his father's radical biological experiments. This science fiction classic explores the birth of a proto-superhero long before comic books codified the genre, tracing Danner’s extraordinary strength and near-invulnerability and the wrenching consequences of being different.
Set against the interwar era, Gladiator blends speculative science with social commentary: Wylie interrogates the ethics of scientific enhancement, the limits of power, and the social alienation faced by anyone who cannot—or will not—fit into ordinary society. The novel balances visceral action with reflective passages on fear, responsibility, and the human need for community, capturing anxieties about modernity, eugenics, and the promise and peril of technological progress.
Ideal for listeners who love classic fiction and vintage science fiction, Gladiator will appeal to fans of superhero origins, philosophical speculative stories, and literary adventure. Listen for a provocative, thought-provoking experience that reads like a missing link between early 20th-century novels and today’s superhero mythos.
