Heart by Henry Slesar (1962)
The novel revolves around a young woman who undergoes a heart transplant and begins to experience strange and terrifying occurrences that suggest the donor's personality and memories are being transferred into her body. As she struggles to maintain her own identity, she uncovers dark secrets about the donor's past and the true nature of the transplant.
By Henry Slesar · First published 1962 · Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 7,689 words
First lines
_Monk had three questions he lived by: Where can I find it? How much will it cost? When can you deliver? But now they said that what he needed wasn't for sale. "Want to bet? " He snorted._
_Systole_. _diastole_. the Cardiophone listened, hummed, and recorded; tracing a path of perilous peaks and precipices on the white paper.
What this Textopian page supports
Heart is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Slesar, dated 1962 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Henry Slesar
- Date: 1962 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 7,689 words
- Structure: 1 section, 207 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heart by Henry Slesar
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Heart?
- How does this novel by Henry Slesar fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative involves space travel, Mars colonization, and futuristic medical concepts, which are central to the plot.
- Drama — The story focuses on the personal struggles and emotional conflicts of the protagonist, Fletcher Monk, as he deals with his health and existential crisis.
- Psychological Fiction — The protagonist's internal conflict and psychological state are explored, particularly his obsession with money and power, and his eventual realization of their limitations.
- Speculative Fiction — The narrative speculates on the effects of reduced gravity on human health and the potential for life on Mars, exploring 'what if' scenarios.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Suspense · Crime Fiction · Dark · Gothic · Atmospheric · Haunting · Emotional · Introspective · Complex Characters · Morally Ambiguous