Book Review: Slan by A. E. van Vogt

Slan by A. E. van Vogt

In the future, a new type of human has appeared--the slans. They are very strong and intelligent, live long lives, and can read minds. Even with these powers, they are an oppressed minority that barely exists. The story starts with Jommy Cross, an adolescent slan on the run with his mother from the government. His mom dies, leaving Jommy an orphan with a destiny. Jommy's father was a scientist who developed new and powerful technologies which were hidden away for Jommy to use. Once Jommy's old enough, he will follow in his father's footsteps and change the world. If he can make it to his twenties. 

Meanwhile, another child slan, Kathleen Layton, is a prisoner in the palace of Kier Gray, the ruler of the world. He thinks keeping Kathleen under observation is important for the future fight against the slans. Harboring a slan is illegal in their society and Gray's board of advisors have very mixed feelings. Kathleen wants to escape, especially since one of the board wants her dead and desperately tries to get her killed. As she grows older, another board member wants her as a lover, an idea she abhors.

The story moves along at a good pace, often skipping years ahead when Jommy is bidding his time or developing his knowledge. He wants to find other slans (so obviously he's going to run into Kathleen at some point) and to end the oppression of his people. The book was written in the 1940s and has a clear parallel to the treatment of Jews and other undesirables under the Third Reich. On the other hand, the vast majority of slans are bad and have a secret plot to take over humanity and end hundreds of years of warfare between the two sides. It's odd that it both sympathizes with the Jewish plight and reinforces a ridiculous negative stereotype. The plot is very melodramatic and the ending was more abrupt than I liked. Even so, I was entertained.

Mildly recommended.