The Iron Man (novel)
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| The Iron Man | |
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| Author | Ted Hughes |
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| Original title | The Iron Man: A Children's Story in Five Nights |
| Cover artist | Andrew Davidson |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Faber and Faber |
| Publication date | 1968 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 59 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-571-22612-4 |
| Followed by | The Iron Woman |
The Iron Man: A Children's Story in Five Nights is a 1968 novel written by Ted Hughes and illustrated by Andrew Davidson. Described by some as a modern fairy tale and others as science fiction, it describes the unexpected arrival in England of a giant "metal man" of unknown origin who rains destruction on the countryside by attacking industrial farm equipment, before befriending a small boy and defending the world from an apparent dragon from outer space. Expanding the narrative beyond a criticism of warfare and inter-human conflict, Hughes later wrote a sequel, The Iron Woman, describing retribution based on environmental themes related to pollution.
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[edit] Plot summary
The Iron Man arrives from seemingly nowhere and his appearance is described in detail. In order to survive, he feeds off local farm equipment. When the farm hands discover their destroyed tractors and diggers, a trap is set consisting of a covered pit on which a tractor is set as bait. Hogarth, a local boy, befriends and lures the Iron Man to the trap. The plan succeeds, and the Iron Man is buried alive.
A few days later, the Iron Man digs himself free of the pit. In order to keep him out of the way, the boy Hogarth takes charge and brings the Iron Man to a metal scrap-heap to feast. The Iron Man promises to not cause further trouble for the locals, as long as no one troubles him.
Time passes, and the Iron Man is treated as merely another member of the community. However, astronomers monitoring the sky make a frightening new discovery; a massive "star spirit" shaped like a black dragon moving from orbit to land on Earth. The "Star Spirit" crashes heavily on Australia, later demanding humanity provide him with food.
Terrified, humans send their armies to destroy the Star Spirit, but it remains unharmed. When the Iron Man hears of this global threat, he allows himself to be disassembled and transported to Australia. There, he challenges the Star Spirit to a contest of strength: if the Iron Man can withstand the heat of burning petroleum for longer than the Star Spirit can withstand the heat of the Sun, the Star Spirit must obey the Iron Man's commands forever more; if the Iron Man melts or is afraid of melting before the Star Spirit undergoes or fears pain in the Sun, the Spirit has permission to devour the whole Earth.
After playing the game three rounds, the Star Spirit is so badly burned that he no longer appears physically frightening. The Iron Man, by contrast, has only a deformed ear-lobe to show for his pains. The Star Spirit admits defeat.
When asked why he came to Earth, the Star Spirit expresses excitement about the ongoing sights and sounds produced by the violent warfare of humanity. In his own life, he was a singer of the "music of the spheres"; the harmony of his kind that keeps the Cosmos in balance, in stable equilibrium.
The Iron Man orders the Star Spirit to sing to the inhabitants of Earth, flying just behind the sunset, to help soothe humanity toward a sense of peace. The beauty of his music distracts the population from its egocentricism and tendency to fight, causing the first worldwide lasting peace.
[edit] Film, TV and theatrical adaptations
The story was memorably read by Tom Baker for the BBC's Jackanory in 1986. Later, in 1989, guitarist Pete Townshend from the rock band The Who released an album realizing the work in musical form. A decade later, Warner Brothers released an animated film using the novel as a basis, entitled The Iron Giant, directed by Brad Bird.
