Of Men and Monsters by William Tenn
"Of Men and Monsters" is a narrative centered on Eric, a young man from a tribe of humans living in the remnants of a world dominated by monstrous beings. As part of a rite of passage, Eric must undertake a Theft, which leads him into Monster Territory. During his journey, he acquires an explosive substance and faces the harsh reality of his situation when he discovers his uncle and fellow tribesmen have vanished. Captured and sentenced to death for practicing Alien-Science, he manages to escape using the explosives, but not without personal loss.
As Eric navigates this treacherous world, he encounters Rachel, a member of a more advanced tribe who recognizes his potential. Their relationship evolves as they collaborate to escape captivity and ultimately seek refuge with Rachel's people, the Aaron tribe. Together, they venture beyond the confines of Monster Territory, exploring themes of survival, adaptation, and the complexities of interspecies relationships. The story addresses the struggle for identity in a world where traditional roles are challenged and emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
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Of Men and Monsters
First published: 1968 (serial form as “The Men in the Walls,” Galaxy Reader, 1963)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—alien civilization
Time of work: Centuries after Monsters take over Earth
Locale: In the walls of a Monster dwelling on Earth
The Plot
Eric the Only is a member of a tribe of humans living in the walls of the dwelling of one of the Monsters, creatures that have taken over Earth. To be initiated into manhood, he must accomplish a Theft. He is renamed Eric the Eye during a ceremony held prior to his departure.
While in Monster Territory, he acquires a Monster souvenir, a gob of red goo that is explosive when spat on. When he attempts to return to his uncle and the rest of his warrior band, he discovers that they have vanished. Eric finds his way back to the burrow of his people but is captured and incarcerated. He learns that he and his uncle are to be tortured and burned alive for practicing Alien-Science as opposed to Ancestor-Science.
Before they are taken to certain death, Eric uses the explosive from his backpack and scares everyone away. He and his uncle escape, but his uncle has been so badly mutilated that he soon dies. Eric disposes of him down a Monster sewer pipe and returns to the place in Monster Territory where he found the explosives. It is the only place for him now that he is an Outcast from his tribe, unwelcome in his former home but still unfamiliar with Monster Territory.
The Alien-Sciencers form an expedition that takes them deep into Monster Territory to discover new weapons. There they find a laboratory in which the Monsters hold humans in cages and perform experiments on them. The Alien-Sciencers are captured by the Monsters.
Eric is dropped into a cage with the beautiful Rachel, who tries to kill him. In defending himself, he speaks, and she realizes that he is civilized. Rachel tells Eric that she is from the most advanced and civilized of all the tribes that live in this particular Monster dwelling. She is impressed by his good looks and warrior capabilities and asks him to be her mate. He accepts and learns everything she knows about science, history, mathematics, and language. Rachel becomes pregnant, and Eric devises an escape plan.
Roy, originally a member of Eric’s Outcast band, is dropped into the cage with them. The three feign death. A Monster disposes of them down a sewer pipe, from which they escape. They reach Rachel’s tribe, the Aaron people. They are accepted by the clan, and all leave Monster Territory together. Stowing themselves aboard the Monster spaceship, they travel to other planets to populate the universe with their host Monsters.