High Man

"High Man" by Jay Clarke is a science fiction tale from the 1950s that explores the drive for progress intertwined with unpredictable outcomes. The story centers on Roger Brisby's amusing experiences with Professor Phelps-Smythe Burdinghaugh's gravity-defying belt. Roger, having been out of touch with his girlfriend Anne, has a series of strange events with the Professor's invention. He soon finds he cannot control his climb, and after spending days in the air, he lands and searches for the Professor, only to find that Burdinghaugh is interested in Anne and has created a plan to remove Roger from the relationship. In a twist, Roger patents the anti-gravity technology, using what happened to create an opportunity while disentangling personal ties. The book blends humor with observations regarding human connections and the scientific spirit.