Etgar Keret’s Outside was published in July, 2020, just over six months into the Covid-19 epidemic. Eighteen months later, we are now into our third wave of the disease. The story is a humorous account of the effects of being locked-down at home. The experience so traumatizes the protagonist that, along with thousands of others, he refuses to leave home when things improve. Forced outside by the army, he struggles to remember where to go and what to do. Fortunately, a chance encounter on the way to an ATM triggers a conditioned response that immediately brings him back to normal. More…
Flying Home
In this story by Ralph Ellison a young, idealistic black man survives when his plane crashes into a field while training to become an air-force pilot. He has been obsessed with flying since a child, and believes that as a pilot he can dispel common stereotypes about the intelligence and capability of African-Americans. Ironically, although he is angry about the condescending way the air force’s white training officers treat him, he also demonstrates a condescending attitude towards the old black farm hand comforting him while awaiting help. Themes include childhood dreams, racism, injustice, ambition/search for identity, failure, shame, humiliation, anger. More…
The Philanthropist’s Christmas
In this Christmas story by J. W. Linn, a philanthropist (a rich person who gives a lot of money to help make life better for other people) learns an important lesson. Eighteen months ago, the philanthropist helped rescue a puppy stuck in a drain. He bought the puppy, and it is now his closest companion. Recently, the puppy has gone missing. During the philanthropist’s search for it, a young boy takes him to the apartment of a poor family. As he helps with their Christmas preparations, he experiences a special joy that changes the way he thinks about his work. More…
The Dead Past
In this story by Isaac Asimov a young physicist, indignant at apparent government suppression of research in a fringe area of science, secretly builds a home “chronoscope” that can look back in time up to one hundred and fifty years. Too late, the government learns of this and tries to censor his work, pointing out the potential for his machine to destroy an important aspect of life everyone takes for granted. Themes include scientific curiosity and freedom, government disinformation and control (in this case for the greater good), privacy, guilt. More…
Showdown
A major theme of this Shirley Jackson story is community responsibility in preventing violence. Before the “showdown”, young Billy’s Saturdays were quiet and uneventful. When Tom Harper’s death breaks the pattern, a mystical power puts Billy (and possibly other townspeople) into a time loop. After many repeated Saturdays, Billy realizes that to break the cycle he must do something to prevent Tom’s death. Could the “haunting” be a result of Tom’s girlfriend Susy’s promises: I won’t ever forget you, and neither will anyone else! I’ll see that they don’t get off easy! Other themes: violence, love, hope, revenge, the supernatural. More…