At the Institute for Advanced Concepts, five brilliant, twisted geniuses have been hired to save the world, but become more interested in other pursuits. One day, Institute director Dr. Carl Becker shows his colleagues a newspaper article that says sixty percent of Americans believe that extraterrestrials exist. The scientists decide to perpetrate a hoax by “introducing” an alien into American society. They choose Simon Mendelssohn, an assistant psychology professor and an orphan, to become their extraterrestrial. Becker invites Simon to become an Institute staff member. Soon, Simon spends his days immersed in a sensory deprivation tank. The Institute scientists expect the experience will make Simon more receptive to the implantation of a new birth memory. Simon is removed after one hundred and ninety hours of immersion, during which he has regressed thousands of years. After Simon regains his full faculties, he collapses. The scientists operate, and implant Simon with other memories that give him a new identity as an alien. Simon remembers that his mother was an alien spaceship, who sent him to Earth to save the world. Soon, the Institute scientists leak a story to the press that they are investigating Simon’s claims to be an extraterrestrial. Later, Simon drafts a statement contending that Earth’s population suffers from boring jobs, bland food, polluted water, and unsuccessful relationships, and that it is time to throw out everything that does not work. His ideas earn much media attention. When Simon tells Becker he is ready to release another statement, Becker wants to review the material, but Simon refuses. Instead, Simon wants Becker to arrange a meeting with the president, the Chinese premier, the pope, and television news anchorman Walter Cronkite. Simon’s demands make Becker tell the other scientists that it is time to terminate Simon, but they ask for more time to enjoy Simon’s effect on the public. Becker relents on the condition they take control of Simon’s growing ego. Meanwhile, Lisa, the assistant from Simon’s former university laboratory, visits the Institute to convince Simon that he is not an extraterrestrial. When Simon becomes overwrought, she changes her tack and asks him to make love because she has never had sex with an extraterrestrial. The scientists soon realize that their experiment has spun out of control. Becker likes the idea of an undetectable gas that will cut Simon’s intellect in half. However, the equipment malfunctions, and the gas drifts throughout the Institute. Becker escapes in time to speak with Doris, the Institute supercomputer. While the machine reassures him that the effects of the gas will wear off within weeks, she has also alerted the Pentagon to the problem. By morning, National Guard troops arrive. Lisa overhears General Korey’s assumption that Simon is responsible for releasing “the stupid-making gas.” When Korey orders his men to find and kill Simon, Lisa warns Simon that he is being blamed for the accident. Lisa and Simon steal a van, and escape Institute grounds. They meet members of a commune, whose leader recognizes Simon from watching television news. The commune members discover a portable television station that can broadcast simultaneously on all the major networks from inside Simon’s stolen van. Soon Simon broadcasts about his general wellbeing and his philosophies, leading to a more rewarding way of American life. As the gas cloud drifts toward the nation’s capitol, Simon continues his broadcasts, denouncing corrupt politicians, traffic gridlock, and pretentious, silly names given to children, among other things. Becker broadcasts a message of his own, asking Simon to contact him. While Lisa argues that Simon’s influence has caused chaos, Simon responds that it takes time to change bad habits. Then it dawns on Simon that his message is not getting through to a majority of the public. People still listen to bad elevator music, and eat thin, gray hamburgers with imitation sauce. Lisa argues that some people might just like their life the way it is. She then interrupts his criticism to tell him that she is pregnant. Simon denies that he is the father because interplanetary species cannot mate. Lisa responds that he does not want to admit he is the father because he would no longer be special. Later, Simon contacts Becker, and admits he is depressed and wants to return to his planet of origin. Becker and Korey arrange for a NASA rocket ship that will transport Simon home. However, Simon takes Becker hostage, and the rocket launches into space with Becker in Simon’s place. Together, Simon and Lisa have a son, and are believed to be living in seclusion in Canada. While Simon plays with his child, Lisa hears over the radio that Simon has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for calling attention to the many annoyances that have eroded American life.