Project Gutenberg
2016-03-24
Public domain in the USA.
130
Banta, Frank
Handyman
Produced from Galaxy Magazine August 1962
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"Handyman" by Frank Banta is a science fiction story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around a character named James Ypsilanti, who resides in a post-apocalyptic, prison-like environment, presumably on an Earth ravaged by war. The central theme appears to explore human survival and the absurdity of existence in a world where traditional roles and relationships have been fundamentally altered. The story follows James Ypsilanti as he confronts his absurd reality within the prison, where he finds himself demolishing his door for warmth, as the heating system is dysfunctional. He interacts with a carpenter, who represents the only other "being" around, yet is a robot, illustrating a profound isolation. As Ypsilanti ruminates on his past and the ruined world outside, he navigates his daily routine of destruction and despair, revealing a mix of dark humor and tragic reflection on the nature of loneliness and human endurance in a desolate landscape. The book is a satirical examination of both the individual’s plight and the broader implications of societal collapse. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 86.6 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Prisoners -- Fiction
PS
Text
Science Fiction
Browsing: Literature
Browsing: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Browsing: Fiction
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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