Jerome Bixby's The Man from Earth

by Richard Schenkman

Richard Schenkman / 6m, 3f / Drama / Unit Set / After history professor John Oldman unexpectedly resigns from the University, his startled colleagues impulsively invite themselves to his home, pressing him for an explanation. But they’re shocked to hear his reason for premature retirement: John claims he must move on because he is immortal, and cannot stay in one place for more than ten years without his secret being discovered. Tempers rise and emotions flow as John’s fellow professors attempt to poke holes in his story, but it soon becomes clear that his tale is as impossible to disprove as it is to verify. What starts out as a friendly gathering soon builds to an unexpected and shattering climax. Acclaimed science fiction writer Jerome Bixby, writer of the original ‘Star Trek’ and ‘The Twilight Zone’, originally conceived this story back in the early 1960’s. It would come to be his last great work.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Plays, Fantasy, Drama, Media Tie In, Speculative Fiction

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2008

Reviews

[Jaroslav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fully aware that this time I'm moving on the very edge of literary waters, but even so I have to share this.

The Man From Earth is a film I saw in 2007 and I found it mind-boggling! So I'm glad I got to read the original. There was an article saying it is 'probably the best movie you never heard of' and that's exactly what it is.

Just a few people sitting in a remote cabin and talking. Nothing else. No action. No special effects or catchy lines. But the content of the discussion is so astonishing it will grasp your attention so hard you're mind will just easily create vivid images of the story.

A story about John Oldman, a university teacher, who claims he is a 14 000 years old Cro-magnon.
Needless to say the book, without having the visual aspect, will have the same effect on you.

[♛ Garima ♛]

Given by someone @office, because some people wants you to read what they loved. But hey! I'm not complaining. This might turn into great read...

[Dr. Sina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably read the play 10 times and watched the very well crafted movie 100 times, but everytime equally shocked by the revelations of John, amazed by the possibilities unleashed, amused by the colorful reaction of his audience. It's a mind opening blend of history, sci-fi, and drama achieved only through less than a hundred pages of witty dialogues.

[Terris · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is "Wow!" This was not what I was expecting. It was written as a play, then produced as a movie in 2007, though Mr. Bixby had the original idea for the story in 1946.

A professor is leaving his teaching job and his colleagues are gathered at his home as he is packing up. They are wishing him a final farewell when he decides to talk to them about his true background and how old he really is. His friends have varying reactions, but they (like the reader!) are astounded by what he is saying and how it could change everything they believe in -- if it is true.

This one really messes with your mind -- but, how cool!!

[C. Allen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short, this book explores the history of the Jesus myth and relates it to an alternate history story about how that myth, having originated half way across the world, could have traveled from place to place - thus making the same mythical story a part of so many different faiths under so many different names. It's half science fiction - half alternate history, with a little bit of Twilight Zone mixed in to make it fun.

[Անահիտ Ղազախեցյան · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021-ի must-read-իս մեջ էր, բայց հենց նոր կարդացի։ Ֆիլմից էլ էի շատ տպավորվել, գիրքն էլ լավ թարմացրեց հիշողությունս։ Люблю!

[Winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerome Bixby’s The Man From Earth is, without question, one of my favourite works of science fiction. The film adaptation had already earned a special place in my heart, but reading the script itself only deepened my appreciation for the story. It’s at least surprising that a screenplay, without the aid of cinematography, performances, or a score, could stand on its own as one of my favourite pieces of writing. Yet here we are.

The brilliance of The Man From Earth lies in its simplicity: a single room, a handful of characters, and a premise so outrageous yet so masterfully handled that it becomes utterly compelling. The interactions between the characters are exquisite—layered, sharp, and dynamic. The script captures the essence of intellectual discourse at its most thrilling, balancing philosophy, history, and human nature with a level of intrigue that rarely falters. The dialogue, while not always flawlessly naturalistic, has an energy that carries the conversation forward with remarkable ease. It’s a testament to the strength of Bixby’s writing that even with minimal action, the tension and excitement never wane.

Of course, no story is without its imperfections. The character development could be deeper, and the historical accuracy—while engaging—isn’t always airtight. I also can’t help but wish that there had been some queer representation in the script or that John himself had been written as a woman. Such a shift would have opened up fascinating new dimensions to the narrative. Even so, these are small quibbles in the grand scheme of things.

What makes this work truly remarkable is how well it translates across different interpretations. The film brings the story to life in a distinct and memorable way, but reading the script reveals just how much flexibility the material has. The core thrill of the conversation remains intact regardless of setting or performance, making it a deeply immersive experience no matter the format. It’s rare to find a piece of writing that can hold up so strongly on its own while also serving as the foundation for an exceptional film.

Few works manage to blend speculative fiction with philosophical depth as seamlessly as The Man From Earth. It is a brilliant, thought-provoking story that lingers long after the final page (or frame). For anyone who appreciates intelligent, dialogue-driven storytelling, this is an absolute must-read.

[Trav Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing concept that keeps you hooked from start to finish. A great read.

The Man From Earth .Professor John Oldman is packing his belongings onto his truck, preparing to move to a new home. His colleagues show up to give him an impromptu farewell party

As John's colleagues (all with high degrees) press him to explain the reason for his departure, he slowly, and somewhat reluctantly, reveals that he has been walking the earth for more than 14,000 years, and that he relocates every ten years to keep others from realizing that he does not age. He begins his tale under the guise of a possible science-fiction story, but eventually stops speaking in hypotheticals and begins answering questions from a first-person perspective. His colleagues refuse to believe his story but struggle to stump him. John continues his tale, relating how he was a Sumerian for 2000 years, then a Babylonian under Hammurabi, then a disciple of Gautama Buddha and even being a major part of the bible. He claims to have known other historical figures, including Christopher Columbus and Van Gogh. In the course of the conversation, each of John's colleagues questions his story based on knowledge from his or her own academic specialty taking them all on an emotional roller coaster.

[Malak Alrashed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every part of it. It was like a bazaar dream into the history of myths and humans. A dream you won't be able to be awake from.

I love anything, really, that has to do with people intellectually talking about everything. Here, kudus, the characters are intellectually talking about things I even love more; MYTHS and the HISTORY OF RELIGION. The Jesus theories made so much sense. The writer isn't trying to sell you something; reading the script didn't feel like a pretentious atheist's shoutings neither a religious extremist handbook. But something I couldn't quite figure. Very well written.

The amazing thing about the scenario is that it explores myths by using one. Genius. Cannot wait to see the movie!

[Verba Non Res · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta obra de teatro es la adaptación de una película que, a su vez, empez[o como una obra de teatro. Su autor, Jerome Bixby, escribió un puñado de guiones de Star Trek, y unas cuantas historias de ciencia ficción, una de las cuales sirvió como base para un capítulo famoso de The Twilight Zone y otra para la película de 1966 Fantastic Voyage, aquella en la que un submarino es reducido a un tamaño microscópico e introducido en el cuerpo de un hombre para resolver no recuerdo qué complicación de la Guerra Fría. Parece ser que Bixby no hizo gran cosa después de la década de 1960. En 1998, en su lecho de muerte, completó el guión de lo que sería The Man from Earth, estrenada en 2007. La película tiene un elenco cerrado de personajes, transcurre prácticamente en tiempo real y en una única locación, y es inmediatamente obvio que fue escrita primero como una obra de teatro. La readaptación, o, si se me permite, desadaptación, no le debe haber causado muchos problemas a Richard Schenkman. Los cambios son mínimos: alguna indicación escénica, alguna variación insignificante en los diálogos. El autor, a los fines prácticos, sigue siendo Bixby.

The Man from Earth es un diálogo que transcurre en una sola tarde. John Oldman, profesor universitario, decide sorpresivamente dejar su trabajo y mudarse a otra ciudad. Sus amigos, otros profesores, lo visitan en su casa para despedirse, o para entender sus motivos. Gradualmente, John les revela que nació en la Prehistoria, que tiene 14.000 años de edad, que no envejece, por razones que él mismo desconoce. Cada diez años, más o menos, para evitar sospechas, se muda, cambia de identidad y de vida. Los amigos de John responden con lógica incredulidad, pero también, durante la mayor parte de la obra, se entretienen en el experimento intelectual que representan las proposiciones de John. Aunque en el grupo hay historiadores, arqueólogos, y biólogos, se dan cuenta de que es imposible comprobar o refutar lo que dice. Cualquiera de las afirmaciones de John puede o bien contradecir lo que ellos creen saber sobre el pasado, o bien, al contrario, confirmar lo que ellos ya saben. En el primer caso, sería imposible probar lo que dice; en el segundo, siempre cabría la posibilidad de que John se hubiese enterado de estos datos de la misma manera en que lo hicieron ellos. (Pensándolo dos veces, es una lástima que en el grupo no hubiera ningún lingüista).

Como suele pasar en las historias que involucran personajes inmortales, John estuvo muchas veces en el centro de la historia. Estudió con el Buda, fue amigo personal de Van Gogh, tuvo la oportunidad de viajar con Colón. Antes de censurarlo, me recuerdo que hasta el inmortal de Borges conoció a Homero y a Vico, y peleó en la batalla de Stamford Bridge. Quién sabe si, a fin de cuentas, un verdadero inmortal no se hubiera cruzado con eventos y personajes históricos, como inevitabilidad estadística. Algo que me gusta, mucho, de The Man from Earth, es que se aventura en las consecuencias prácticas de la inmortalidad, y descubre que son más bien irrelevantes. John recuerda de su vida tanto como cualquiera de nosotros. Sus conocimientos de historia son vastos, pero esto no es fruto de la experiencia, tan fragmentaria como la de todos los seres humanos que vivieron antes de la era de las comunicaciones:

that’s mostly from study. Again, it was always one man, one place at a time. My solitary viewpoint, in a world I knew almost nothing about.

En el momento central de la obra, John les revela a sus amigos que, sin quererlo, en su intento de llevar el budismo a Occidente, se transformó en la base histórica del mito de Cristo: “I did try some teaching one day, from a hill… Not many stayed to listen”. Casi todo el resto de la historia, excepto su crucifixión y (aparente) resurrección, fue un invento posterior de filósofos y escritores que, en muchos casos, echaron mano a tradiciones mitológicas preexistentes. Este debería haber sido el punto en que sus amigos, intelectuales y académicos, descubrieran la mentira de John. En cambio, uno de ellos dice:

Taken alone, the philosophical teachings attributed to Jesus are Buddhism with a Hebrew accent. Kindness, tolerance, brotherhood, love, and a ruthless realism acknowledging that life is as it is. Here and now.

En realidad, el budismo y el cristianismo tienen muy poco en común, y ni siquiera los puntos aquí mencionados. Los registros más antiguos de los dichos de Jesús ponen en evidencia que su mensaje está inevitablemente anclado a su contexto histórico, a la tradición del pensamiento judío y que se entienden más como una respuesta a este que a la realidad política del Imperio Romano. Esto sin contar con que, ningún misionero de la época hubiera recalado en Judea. De hecho, hubo una misión india (posiblemente budista) enviada al emperador César Augusto, que obviamente se dirigió a los grandes centros urbanos de la época, Roma y Atenas, como, sin ir más lejos, harían unos años después los primeros misioneros cristianos.

La discusión concluye cuando John, por sugerencia de uno de los presentes, acepta retirar todo lo dicho. Asegura que no fue más que una broma, un juego intelectual; implícitamente, se entiende que la mentira es esta, pero que tanto él como sus aceptan creerla por afecto al status quo. Sería también un buen momento para terminar la obra y dejar el resto en manos del espectador, pero en cambio hay una última vuelta de tuerca un tanto forzada, efectista, que la asemeja a un episodio de The Twilight Zone. Y que también despeja las dudas. Una obra entretenida, con algunas buenas ideas, pero no tan profunda como hubiese querido ser.

[Verba Non Res · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play is the adaptation of a film that, in turn, started as a play. Its author, Jerome Bixby, wrote a handful of Star Trek scripts, and a few science fiction stories, one of which served as the basis for a famous episode of The Twilight Zone, and another one for the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage. It seems that Bixby did not do much after the sixties. In 1998, on his deathbed, he completed the script for what would become The Man from Earth, released in 2007. The film has a closed cast of characters, takes place practically in real time and in a single location, and it is immediately obvious that it was first written as a play. The adaptation, or, if I may say so, unadaptation, must not have caused Richard Schenkman much trouble. The changes are minimal: some scenic indication, some insignificant variation in the dialogues. The author, for all practical purposes, is still Bixby.

The Man from Earth is a dialogue that takes place in the course of a single afternoon. John Oldman, a young college professor, unexpectedly decides to quit his job and move to another city. His friends, other teachers, visit him at his house to say goodbye to him, or to understand his motives; maybe, to change his mind. Gradually enough, John reveals to them that he was born in Prehistory, that he is 14,000 years old, that he does not age, for reasons unknown even to himself. Every ten years, more or less, to avoid suspicion, he moves, changes his identity and his life. John's friends respond with logical disbelief, but they also, for most of the play, linger in the thought experiment that John's propositions represent. Although there are historians, archaeologists, and biologists in the group, they realize that it is impossible to prove or disprove what he says. Any of John's statements can either contradict what they think they know about the past, or conversely confirm what they already know. In the first case, it would be impossible to prove what he says; in the second, there would always be the possibility that John had found out about this information in the same way that they did. (On second thought, it's a shame there weren't any linguists in the group.)

As is often the case in stories involving immortal characters, it turns out that, during his life, John was often at the very center of History. He studied with the Buddha, he was a personal friend of Van Gogh, and he had the opportunity to travel with Columbus, but rejected it (apparently, he believed the Earth was flat). Before censoring it, I remind myself that even the Borges’ immortal met Homer and Vico, and fought in the battle of Stamford Bridge. Who knows if, after all, a true immortal would not have crossed paths with historical events and characters, like statistical inevitability. One thing I really like about The Man from Earth is that he ventures into the practical consequences of immortality, and finds that they are rather irrelevant. John remembers as much of his life as any of us. His knowledge of history is vast, but this is not the result of experience, as fragmentary as that of all human beings who lived before the age of communications:

that's mostly from study. Again, it was always one man, one place at a time. My solitary viewpoint, in a world I knew almost nothing about.

In the central moment of the play, John reveals to his friends that, unintentionally, in his attempt to bring Buddhism to the West, he became the historical basis for the Christ myth: “I did try some teaching one day, from a hill… Not many stayed to listen”. Most of the rest of the story, except for his crucifixion and (apparent) resurrection, was a later invention by philosophers and writers who, in many cases, drew on pre-existing mythological traditions. This should have been the point at which his friends, intellectuals and academics, discovered John's lie. Instead, one of them says:

Taken alone, the philosophical teachings attributed to Jesus are Buddhism with a Hebrew accent. Kindness, tolerance, brotherhood, love, and a ruthless realism acknowledging that life is as it is. Here and now.

Actually, Buddhism and Christianity have very little in common, not even the points mentioned here. The oldest records of the sayings of Jesus show that his message is inevitably anchored to its historical context, to the tradition of Jewish thought and that they are understood more as a response to it than to the political reality of the Roman Empire. Also, no religious missionary of the time would’ve chosen Judea as his destination. As a matter of fact, there was an Indian (possibly Buddhist) mission sent to the emperor Caesar Augustus, and they obviously preached in the great population centers of the West: Rome and Athens. Exactly as the first Christian missionaries would do only a few years later.

The discussion concludes when John, at the suggestion of one of those present, agrees to withdraw everything said. He assures that it was nothing more than a joke, an intellectual game; implicitly, it is understood that the lie is this, but that both he and his agree to believe it out of affection for the status quo. It would also be a good time to finish the work and leave the rest in the hands of the viewer, but instead there is a final, somewhat forced, gimmicky twist that makes it like an episode of The Twilight Zone, and that eliminates any remaining ambiguity. An entertaining work, with some good ideas, but not as deep as it would’ve liked to be.

[Tana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (although its more of a script) like the movie is a very simple concept. What happens to a man who never die's. How he travels through life, what he remembers and the historical figure he accidentally became. Can you suspend your belief's and accpet something that conflicts with what you know about history

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good read. Read it because I'm designing a production of it. A little heavy about two-thirds of the way through, but touches on some interesting ideas. Ending is a little Twilight Zone. Well-written and definitely makes you think.

[João Lamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Also loved the movie. I really enjoyed the concept

[Ibrahim Majed · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didn't had the chance to read the book. but i watched the movie twice!
it's really incredible, amazing!

[Ahmed HaZem · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is very good book with a unique imagination which make you asking some new questions about life

[Gary Lemly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect the book to be this good. Scifi in a living room.

[Bob Langdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm speechless.
5.5 stars.

[Sriram Ramachandran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. One of the few books whose picturization into a 2007 movie of the same name, is also pretty good.

[Harita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Equally silly and obvious as fun and fresh

[Sahil Rane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What if a man from the Upper Paleolithic survived until the present day?"

So yeah, I read the book and watched the movie—and honestly, both are brilliant. It’s rare when a story blends history, religion, science, and philosophy so seamlessly that you’re left rethinking everything you ever knew, but The Man from Earth does exactly that.

At first, the setup feels deceptively simple—just a group of friends talking in a room. But what unfolds is a deeply layered exploration of time, belief, and the limits of human understanding. I never imagined someone could reframe all of human history like this and still make it feel so grounded, so believable. This wasn’t just another sci-fi story—it was a thought experiment that tugged at every thread of my curiosity.

It’s dialogue-heavy, sure, but that’s where the magic lies. The questions it asks aren’t loud or flashy—they’re the kind that echo in your mind long after the last page (or the final scene). Whether you're into anthropology, theology, or just love a good “what if?” scenario, this one's going to hit you deep.

Highly recommended. Watch the movie too if you can—it's practically the script brought to life, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Loved it. Nice one.
Would definitely want more stories like this that challenge the way we think.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is John.

Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) is packing, as it is time for him to move on. All his friends and co-scientists from the university come to see him off. They have an afternoon and a bottle to kill so John poses a question. The base of a few trinkets found in John is packing possessions. The portcullises what if he were a caveman that survived to this day. As his friends are grilling him, he feeds off their input to weave a tale that sucks us in.

You can watch the movie and follow the play but you will find a few working differences as with all screenplays. I always like to read screenplays and have quite a collection. Besides the differences, the play tells what people are doing and sometimes thinking. It is sort of like telling someone his or her shoe is untied. Before the advent of voice-over commentaries, this was the only way to get a good insight.

There are four black-and-white stills from the movie.

[J_BlueFlower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up because I 5-star-liked It's a Good Life.

A science fiction play where people just talk? Actually, it works really well.

Cannot help thinking: What would I have done? Trying to secure same value and handing it down to his next self? It must be hard getting used to the speed things develop by now. You cannot just think “oh, computers,... I will study them next time”. 10 years later is too late.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Man from Earth' is a quintessential SF story: what would you do if an old friend claimed to be immortal and had lived for millennia? John Oldman is about to leave his life behind, but tells his friends about his experiences as a Cro Magnon man.

Bixby's screenplay is deliberately divisive and it is the reactions of Oldman's audience which sells the story.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provocative play about an ageless man who confesses to his colleagues that he has lived over 14,000 years. The outlandish premise is handled seriously and in a straight-forward fashion and manages to keep a killer surprise to the very end. It bogs down at mid-point with a confused section about religion, but the drama is still fairly gripping.

[Will Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Man from Earth" is one of my favorite movies. I was curious how they would redo it for a script and what I found was, they didn't. It's basically the movie screenplay. That makes sense because the whole movie takes place in a living room. It could be done on a stage without changes. I hope to help get it on a stage in my area.

[A O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I absolutely love this play. I saw it as the movie first, and then one night, realized it was probably a much better stage play. I got a chance to direct it as well! I love how well the dialogue moves the story along in a way that feels like no time has passed at all. Highly recommended.

[Diego Molla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the movie and I could not help reading the original script. Excellent read! Like the movie, there is no action, all dialogue, but very entertaining and thought provoking. What if you meet a man who claims to have born as a cro-magnon, who has lived for over 14,000 years? Read on...

[Nima · Rating 5 out of 5]

John oldman is basically a glitch in the matrix.

[Zezo Sherif · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing concepts of philosophy, physics, history and religion that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
A great read.