The Stars My DestinationThe Stars My Destination
Score Classic
What it's about
Alfred Bester imagines a future where people 'jaunte' a thousand miles with a thought and the rich hide in labyrinths guarded by radioactive hitmen. In it, an inarticulate outcast becomes the most valuable and dangerous man alive.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a fast, pulse-quickening science fiction classic.
You'll love it if you liked
The Demolished Man
The Count of Monte Cristo
NeuromancerGood to know
It's a fast, wild ride.
By the numbers
- Readers49 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #181 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #593 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1884 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Alfred Bester
If you like this, read next
Ender's Game
The Lord of the Rings
Dune
Hyperion
The Dispossessed
FoundationExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Stars My Destination worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,884 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Stars My Destination about?
Alfred Bester imagines a future where people 'jaunte' a thousand miles with a thought and the rich hide in labyrinths guarded by radioactive hitmen. In it, an inarticulate outcast becomes the most valuable and dangerous man alive.
How long does it take to read The Stars My Destination?
About 7 hours (278 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Stars My Destination?
If you liked it, try The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas or Neuromancer by William Gibson.