Project Gutenberg
2019-11-26
Public domain in the USA.
152
Farnham, Bob
Old Shag
Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, March 1960
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"Old Shag" by Bob Farnham is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. The narrative follows the unexpected events that unfold during a freight train journey, blending elements of suspense and time travel. The story centers around a train brakeman who encounters a mysterious helper during a life-or-death situation. In the tale, the protagonist, a seasoned brakeman, faces a catastrophic moment when both the engineer and fireman of the freight train fall victim to a deadly incident. With the engine's power down and danger looming due to the train carrying dynamite, a strange, shaggy man appears in the cab to assist him. In a race against time, the brakeman must follow the shaggy man's urgent instructions to avert disaster while grappling with the supernatural implications of their conversation about time travel and destiny. The story culminates in a blend of tension and philosophical reflection, focusing on the fragility of life and the profound impact of individual actions across time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 82.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Time travel -- Fiction
Railroad stories
Railroads -- Employees -- Fiction
PS
Text
Category: Short Stories
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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