"Hugo Danner—a man with strength unparalleled. A man to physically rival any human, any beast, any machine, and maybe even the gods themselves. But will the world accept his existence?
Hugo didn’t ask for this gift that his father, brilliant biologist Abednego Danner, bestowed upon him; a “gift” that promises a life of greatness. From being a baby that can launch himself from a second-story window unscathed, a boy that can leap canyons and hurl boulders, a football star that can beat an opposing team single-handed, a man capable of crushing an entire enemy platoon with his bare hands; surely such a person could steer the entire world to their whims.
But, does the world hold any post for a man of such strength? What good is immortal muscle when your own humanity, and the world itself, want to hold you back? Are there imperturbable forces that could stop a man who is capable of moving mountains from realizing his destiny?
First published in 1930, Philip Wylie’s Gladiator precedes Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster’s Superman by eight years and is part of a foundation of incredible stories featuring individuals with powers beyond human limits. Fans of superheroes will be astounded by this early rendition of very modern tales."
"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
Hugo Danner was born different. Not just different, exceptional. Unbeknownst to him, a scientific experiment gifted him with extraordinary strength and speed. But these gifts come at a steep price. Living a double life, Hugo grapples with his true nature, yearning for connection while fearing the potential harm his power could unleash. Forced to the fringes of society, Hugo navigates a world that can't contain him, searching for his place in a world that isn't ready for him. Is he a hero hiding in plain sight, or a monster in the making? Find out in Gladiator, a story of hidden potential, societal expectations, and the burden of extraordinary power."
"A parable from the 1950s that is just as relevant today.It's the 1950s. After a nuclear blast in the mid-Pacific, a Thoreau-reading American Air Force General makes an unexpected and troubling discovery: In a flowery field on a tiny island in the middle of a vast ocean, is an angel— its beautiful face frozen in a death mask and its huge wings wrapped around an inert body. As the general ponders this mystery, the Soviets discover their own angel after a similar nuclear test in Siberia. Are these twin phenomena a ploy in the ongoing hostilities between two international powers? Or has divine intervention pointed the way toward a new political era?
Out of the confusion and dismay provoked by the discovery of these ethereal messengers comes a message both simple and profound. Originally published in 1955, this enchanting, sometimes chilling novella tackles a question that has plagued humankind since civilization began: How can we live together in peace?"