Gladiator

By: Philip Wylie

Narrated by: Joel Simler

Hugo Danner—a man with a 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.

Public Domain (P)2022 Spoken Realms

A Peek Into the Public’s Mind in 1930

An interesting book not entirely realistic, but definitely a peak into public opinion in 1930. World War I is blamed on arms merchants and disarmament is considered to be a cure. Within a decade they would all be fighting another war partially brought about by these attitudes.

Well read and very entertaining

We listened to this on our way home from a trip and it really made the time fly by. The narrator did an excellent job of reading and brought us into the story.