The smart ones by Jack Sharkey
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"The Smart Ones" by Jack Sharkey is a science fiction short story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around the tensions of a nuclear threat during the Cold War and explores themes of survival, human relationships, and the psychological impact of impending disaster. As tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate, characters grapple with the prospect of impending apocalypse and the decisions that come with it. The story begins with
a couple, Pete and Beth Crolin, facing a world on the brink of nuclear war. After receiving alarming news, they wrestle with the choice of either awaiting disaster in the comfort of their home or seeking refuge in a spaceship aimed at the Moonbase, which promises survival. While Pete is initially reluctant to abandon their home, Beth, driven by the instinct for survival and hope for a future, ultimately chooses to leave with a neighbor, Martin, as Pete struggles with feelings of helplessness and fear. The narrative continues to unfold across different characters and settings amid chaos and despair, revealing the emotional turmoil of those left behind and the harsh realities of their existence. As the story comes to a close, the aftermath of devastation brings forth new beginnings through the eyes of the resilient children left to navigate a changed world, ultimately showcasing humanity's capacity for survival and adaptation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Sharkey, Jack, 1931-1992 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Schelling, George, 1938- |
| Title | The smart ones |
| Original Publication | United States: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 1963. |
| Series Title | Produced from Amazing Stories February 1963. |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.7 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Apocalyptic fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 72440 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-72440-9 |
| Release Date | Dec 17, 2023 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 382 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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