Gladiator, published in 1930, is a pioneering science fiction novel by Philip Wylie that tells the story of Hugo Danner, a man born with superhuman strength and abilities due to an experimental serum. Struggling to find a place in society, Hugo’s journey explores themes of alienation, power, and moral responsibility. Often cited as an influence on the creation of Superman, Gladiator is both a thrilling adventure and a philosophical meditation on human limitations. Its critique of war, politics, and conformity remains strikingly relevant.
