Author |
Sternbach, Richard A. |
Illustrator |
Houlihan, Raymond F., 1923-1991 |
Title |
The Hands
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Note |
Reading ease score: 77.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
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Summary |
"The Hands" by Richard A. Sternbach is a short story written in the early 1950s. This piece of speculative fiction explores themes of creation and destruction through a cosmic lens, illustrated in a brief yet impactful narrative structure. The story contemplates the persistent cycle of human behavior against the backdrop of a vast and indifferent universe. In this poignant vignette, two figures are depicted atop a mountain—a gigantic, ancient father and his smaller, younger son. As they witness the fires of destruction ignited by humanity below, the son pleads for humanity to receive another chance, while the father is skeptical, knowing they might repeat their past mistakes. Ultimately, the father's choice to knead clay in his hands suggests a new creation, providing a sense of hope and possibility rather than despair. This story prompts reflection on the nature of existence, responsibility, and the potential for renewal amidst chaos. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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Language |
English |
LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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Subject |
Short stories
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Category |
Text |
EBook-No. |
29535 |
Release Date |
Jul 29, 2009 |
Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
Downloads |
83 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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