Beauty contest? by Henry Slesar
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"Beauty Contest?" by Henry Slesar is a science fiction novella likely written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around a unique beauty pageant called the Miss Outer Space contest, where contestants undergo a series of rigorous tests that extend beyond mere physical appearance. The narrative explores themes of societal expectations and the definitions of beauty and worth in an interstellar context. The plot follows a group of young women competing for
the title of Miss Outer Space at the Omaha Spaceport. As they endure demanding physical tests and a domestic science evaluation, they navigate their frustrations and desires while being under the scrutiny of the military personnel. The main character, Cleveland, eventually emerges as the winner amidst the backdrop of a surprising twist regarding the ultimate prize: a chance to marry one of the astronauts headed to Mars, thus encapsulating the tension between traditional beauty standards and the evolving roles women may occupy in a futuristic society. The story concludes with a blend of celebration and contemplation as the women consider their future opportunities tied to adventure and sacrifice on another world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Slesar, Henry, 1927-2002 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Summers, Leo, 1925-1985 |
| Title | Beauty contest? |
| Original Publication | United States: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 1957. |
| Series Title | Produced from Fantastic February 1957. |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.1 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Beauty contests -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 73589 |
| Release Date | May 9, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 293 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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