High Man

High Man is a science fiction short story written by Jay Clarke in the early 1950s. It follows Roger Brisby, who, after a series of comedic misadventures with an anti-gravity belt created by Professor Phelps-Smythe Burdinghaugh, finds himself floating uncontrollably above the ground. The narrative explores themes of ambition, technology, and the complexities of man-woman relationships, culminating in Roger's clever patenting of the anti-gravity design, which allows him to escape emotional entanglements. The story combines humor with a critique of scientific experimentation and its unforeseen consequences.