Short Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Short Stories

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

In a future where humanity has regressed to tribal superstition, a brilliant engineer discovers a frozen victim of ancient medical experiments. As he revives the man, he uncovers a conspiracy involving doubles, sabotage, and the fragile foundations of a high-tech society built on forgotten history.

Summary up to 500 words

C. M. Kornbluth's *Short Stories* presents a collection of narratives that juxtapose primitive tribal life with advanced, dystopian futures, exploring themes of technological regression, the fragility of civilization, and the psychological toll of power. The first story, *The Marching Morons*, opens in a primitive village where technology is feared as magic. Here, potter Efim Hawkins, a versatile expert in engineering and psychology, discovers a bronze casket containing Honest John Barlow, a real estate dealer accidentally placed in suspended animation centuries ago by a dentist's experimental error. Upon reviving Barlow, Hawkins reveals the man has been preserved without hair or fingernails, highlighting the bizarre intersection of ancient superstition and forgotten science. The narrative then shifts to the high-tech, stratified society of Denv, ruled by a mysterious group called the Maintainers. In *The Luckiest Man in Denv*, the plot centers on Reuben, an Atomist working for General May, who becomes entangled in a complex conspiracy involving doubles and sabotage. General May, revealed to be insane and addicted to drugs, plans to destroy civilization to start anew. Reuben, realizing the truth, conspires with General Rudolph to expose May's madness and prevent a missile attack on the rival city of Ellay. The story features a failed assassination attempt using a double intended to frame a rival, which Reuben and Rudolph must manage. Through their collaboration, they navigate a world where the nature of doubles and the potential for peace between warring factions are tested. The collection ultimately underscores the precariousness of societal structures, the danger of unchecked ambition, and the enduring human capacity for both regression and redemption amidst chaos.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks2/c-m-kornbluth_short-stories.epub

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data/epubs/url-7ba14830747f022e.epub

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