And the Gods Laughed by Fredric Brown
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"And the Gods Laughed" by Fredric Brown is a science fiction novella that was published in the early 1940s. Set in a future where space travel is common, the story navigates the themes of identity and invasion through a riveting plot involving parasitic beings from the moon Ganymede. This work reflects the imaginative yet introspective nature of early mid-20th century science fiction, exploring what it means to be human in the face
of unfamiliar and possibly hostile extraterrestrial forces. The narrative follows a crew of space miners stranded on an asteroid as they recount their strange experiences on Ganymede. The protagonist, Hank, describes how the expedition initially appears to discover a primitive but intelligent humanoid race known for their peculiar custom of wearing large gold earrings. However, as the crew interacts with the Ganymedeans, they come to realize that these earrings are not mere adornments; they are tools of possession wielded by an otherworldly telepathic entity that takes over the minds and bodies of its hosts. As paranoia and dread escalate, Hank faces a terrifying confrontation with these entities, ultimately leading him to question his own identity and humanity as he battles against being taken over himself. The blend of humor, suspense, and a deep philosophical undercurrent makes this novella a thought-provoking and engaging read. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Brown, Fredric, 1906-1972 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Clyne, Ronald, 1925-2006 |
| Title | And the Gods Laughed |
| Series Title | Produced from Planet Stories Spring 1944 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 81.3 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Miners -- Fiction |
| Subject | Storytelling -- Fiction |
| Subject | Asteroids -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 62915 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-62915-5 |
| Release Date | Aug 12, 2020 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 510 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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