Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog Project Gutenberg 2015-12-23 Public domain in the USA. 196 Leiber, Fritz 1910 1992 Leiber, Fritz Reuter Later Than You Think Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction October 1950 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Later Than You Think" by Fritz Leiber is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative explores themes of intelligence, extinction, and the nature of civilization through the interaction between an Explorer and an Archeologist who examines the remains of a previously unknown intelligent species that once inhabited Earth. The story contemplates the significance of their existence and the inevitability of cultural and species decline. In the story, the Explorer returns from an interstellar journey, disillusioned after failing to find intelligent life in space. Intrigued by the Archeologist's recent discovery of artifacts from an ancient, intelligent species, he becomes eager to learn more about them. The Archeologist describes the species as somewhat similar to humanity, highlighting their cultural achievements, technological advances, and eventual decline, potentially due to their inability to manage their emotions and aspirations. Throughout their conversation, the Explorer grapples with a sense of melancholy understanding as he recognizes the parallels between the lost species and humanity itself, culminating in a reflection on the impermanence of all civilizations. The story ends on a poignant note, emphasizing the shared fate of intelligent beings and the remnants they leave behind. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 67.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Science fiction Short stories PS Text Science Fiction Category: Short Stories Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy 42240 2025-07-20T10:59:28.845234 text/html 18443 2024-10-22T23:38:35 text/html 246555 2025-07-20T10:59:30.423222 application/epub+zip 245399 2025-07-20T10:59:29.196230 application/epub+zip 83817 2025-07-20T10:59:28.997243 application/epub+zip 279569 2025-07-20T10:59:31.507226 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 273234 2025-07-20T10:59:30.229265 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 111868 2022-09-23T05:25:55.752629 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 35874 2025-07-20T10:59:28.752239 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16138 2024-10-22T23:38:35 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17619 2025-07-20T10:59:31.625217 application/rdf+xml 20997 2025-07-20T10:59:29.068237 image/jpeg 4013 2025-07-20T10:59:29.031234 image/jpeg 221424 2025-07-20T10:59:28.854280 application/octet-stream application/zip en.wikipedia