The cottage by Frank Belknap Long
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"The Cottage" by Frank Belknap Long is a science fiction short story published in the mid-20th century, specifically in 1954. The narrative explores themes of cruelty, familial relationships, and the consequences of obsessive hatred. It delves into the psychological and supernatural ramifications of a man's harsh treatment of his stepchildren, examining the darker aspects of human emotions and actions, particularly in the context of a violent universe. The story centers around Will
Durkin, a cruel stepfather who harbors deep animosity toward his stepchildren, Robert and Emily, and their mother, Helen. The tale begins with Durkin gleefully presenting a dollhouse to the children, intending it as a tool for emotional punishment by reflecting their disdain for him. However, as he confronts the children's vivid and imaginative transformation of the dolls, which portrays him as a demonic figure, the story escalates into a supernatural twist. As atomic explosions occur outside, the cottage is uprooted into another dimension, and Durkin, embittered and vengeful, realizes too late the implications of his cruelty, culminating in a fateful encounter with a childlike force of revenge. The story encapsulates the interplay of childhood innocence and adult malice, ultimately highlighting the perils of a vindictive nature. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Long, Frank Belknap, 1903-1994 |
|---|---|
| Title | The cottage |
| Original Publication | New York, NY: King-Size Publications, Inc., 1954. |
| Series Title | Produced from Fantastic Universe September 1954. |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 81.0 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Stepfathers -- Fiction |
| Subject | Children -- Fiction |
| Subject | Cruelty -- Fiction |
| Subject | Dollhouses -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 74074 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-74074-4 |
| Release Date | Jul 19, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 385 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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