Flowers for Algernon: Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing the classic science fiction novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. While it is over half a century old, it is considered one of the best science fiction books ever written. Keep reading to find out what we thought of the novel and if you should read it next!

Flowers for Algernon Summary

Charlie Gordon is 32 years old and has an IQ of 68. He works at a bakery and does menial jobs, a position his uncle procured for him before his passing. One day, Charlie is chosen as a human test subject to try a new technique that increases intelligence. After some tests, Charlie is selected for the procedure.

The operation goes well and within a few weeks, Charlie’s intelligence increases. But he soon realizes that the people around him abused him because of his lack of intelligence. That leads him to not trusting others and his higher intelligence leads his friends to avoiding him.

Charlie tries to come to terms with his new life but can’t help but be frustrated at the world. And a side effect of the procedure is that Charlie recalls experiences from his past. As Charlie tries to understand his trauma, he comes to a realization that the experiment may not be as perfect as the scientists think.

History of Flowers for Algernon

The novel was first published as a short story in 1959 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Keyes was supposed to write a story for Galaxy Science Fiction magazine and he did just that. But the editor wanted Keyes to chance the ending of Flowers for Algernon. That led to Keyes turning elsewhere and publishing it as he wrote it.

From 1962-1965, Keyes worked on the novel and after completion, reached out to Doubleday to sell it. But like the Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, they also wanted to change the ending. Instead, Keyes shopped the novel around until it was finally published in 1966 by Harcourt.

Now, the novel has sold over 5 million copies and this novel is considered a must read. I loved every second of it and can see why it is considered a sci-fi classic. And Keyes knew the ending was perfect as it was even though many people disagreed.

The novel is one of the most challenged and banned in the United States. That is unfortunate because it is a great read and insightful.

My Thoughts on the Novel

There have been many books that have used the journal entry or letter format and it is always fun reading a book like that. Keyes does an amazing job of showcasing Charlie’s increase in intelligence using this format. Two novels that come to mind are Frankenstein and Dracula and that is great company to be amongst.

Keyes was a writer for Atlas Comics, which went on to become Marvel Comics and you can see the superhero influence. In another world, this could easily have been a successful comic book. In fact, Keyes wrote an idea called “Brainstorm” which would end up becoming Flowers for Algernon, but never submitted it.

“Something told me it should be more than a comic book script,” Keyes said of the idea.

This novel feels like a cross between a comic book and a novel which is why the novel works. Keyes relied on his experience writing comics and didn’t try to do too much. I would have loved more novels from Keyes to see how he grew as a writer but he didn’t write many in his career.

Conclusion

Even then, Flowers for Algernon has cemented Keyes as a fantastic author with an amazing novel under his belt. Few authors achieve this feat and even if Keyes never wrote this novel, his illustrious career as a comic book writer would have been enough for many writers.

If you enjoy great science fiction books, then this is a must read. And while it isn’t your typical science fiction novel, it is still a great novel that showcases how broad sci-fi novels can be. Happy reading!

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