A humanoid alien crash lands on Earth, adopts the name Thomas Jerome Newton, and sets about using his vast scientific and engineering knowledge to invent new technologies, gain patents, and start a corporation.

Before leaving his war-ravaged planet, Anthea, Newton gained most of his knowledge about Earth culture from our television transmissions, but soon realizes that his education was insufficient. Nevertheless, he adapts as necessary and amasses a fortune, allowing him to build a ship that can return to Anthea and transport his people to Earth. However, it isn’t long before his true identity is discovered.

While the plot is simple and straightforward, Tevis presents a sympathetic character in Newton and some of the allies he picks up during his journey. Experiencing Newton’s physical frailties as he deals with Earth’s gravity, his loneliness, his self-imposed isolation, the taste he develops for gin, and eventually questioning his mission, make him more human than alien.