The Sex Life of the Gods

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

40284

Title

The Sex Life of the Gods

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a blend of science fiction and noir, a Terran artist named Nick Danson wakes from a plane crash with amnesia, only to discover he has been swapped with a spaceman from an advanced alien civilization. As he navigates a world of nuclear-powered scout ships, secret government cover-ups, and political intrigue, Nick must unravel the mystery of his identity while confronting a reality where humanity is watched by gods from the stars. The novel explores themes of identity, free will...

Summary up to 500 words

In M. E. Knerr's *The Sex Life of the Gods*, the narrative unfolds through a complex duality involving Nick Danson, an artist who survives a mysterious plane crash only to suffer amnesia, and Lors, a superior spaceman from an advanced civilization who has inhabited Nick's body. Upon waking in a cabin surrounded by federal agents and military personnel investigating a nuclear-powered spacecraft wreckage, Nick struggles to piece together his identity while protecting his wife, Beth, from political machinations. The story oscillates between the mundane reality of Earth, where superstition and science coexist uneasily, and the high-tech environment of the alien starship where Lors is held captive. Federal agents, including Nolan Brice, initially suspect Russian or alien origins for the crash, but the truth is far more intricate. Lors, possessing Nick's memories but trapped in a human form, faces the dilemma of his existence. He is ordered by his alien superiors to stage an accident that would result in the death of both Nick and Brice to maintain secrecy. However, Lors's genuine love for Beth complicates this directive. As tensions escalate, Lors utilizes his superior technology to escape the starship's constraints and return to Earth. The narrative builds to a climactic high-speed chase through the atmosphere and over the ice caps, where Lors maneuvers a scout ship at incredible speeds to evade pursuing alien vessels. During this flight, he retrieves Nick's physical body, which has been left behind, and brings him back to Beth. The resolution reveals a bittersweet acceptance of the new status quo. Lors acts against his Commander's orders to save Nick, sacrificing his own position and risking alien retribution. The Secret Service agent, Cartwell, who is revealed to be an alien spacer himself, helps cover up the incident, allowing the government to eventually forget the event. Nick and Beth are reunited, though the secret of the alien visitors remains hidden from the public eye. The novel concludes with Lors departing to return to his people, leaving behind a world where the boundary between gods and men has been irrevocably altered, yet the truth remains concealed beneath the surface of human affairs.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40284.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg40284.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-06-29 22:21 UTC

Categories

• Science Fiction
• Extraterrestrial Beings