A Bad Day for Vermin: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
A Bad Day for Vermin: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
A Bad Day for Vermin is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Laumer, Keith (1925–1993).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"A Bad Day for Vermin" by Keith Laumer is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. The narrative unfolds in a small town where an extraterrestrial being makes contact, prompting a heated debate about the definition of life and human rights. Through its engaging plot, the story tackles themes of prejudice and the nature of humanity in the face of the unknown. The tale begins with Judge Carter Gates witnessing the arrival of a friendly alien, only to have that moment shattered when a local man, Cecil Stump, shoots the creature. This act sparks an uproar among the townsfolk, leading to a contentious community meeting where the very concept of personhood is fiercely debated. As emotions run high, the townspeople strive to redefine what constitutes a “person,” ultimately deciding that a "person" is any harmless creature, whereas those who commit violent acts are deemed "vermin." The story culminates in a twist as a new exterminator arrives, leaving readers to ponder the implications of their decisions. Laumer deftly explores the complexities of morality and societal norms, making this short story thought-provoking and timely.
Book and edition facts
- Title: A Bad Day for Vermin
- Author credits: Laumer, Keith (1925–1993)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Ethics -- Fiction
- Extraterrestrial beings -- Fiction
- Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- United States -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
- Science Fiction
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
