Dead End: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Dead End: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Dead End is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Macfarlane, Wallace (1918–1999).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Dead End" by Wallace Macfarlane is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The story explores themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of technological advancements. Set in the year 2512, it delves into a future where humans have been replaced with imitations known as pseudo-lives, offering a critique of society's reliance on technology to avoid the pain of death and emotional suffering. The narrative follows Scientist William Manning Norcross, who is grappling with the implications of pseudo-life after his former mentee, John Davis Drumstetter, accuses him of withholding scientific progress. As Drumstetter wrestles with the loss of authentic human connection and strives to complete his work on a stellar overdrive for interstellar travel, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with a society that opts for artificial substitutes over genuine experiences. Norcross introduces him to Monica Drake Lane, a pseudo-life version of his deceased fiancée, in an effort to maintain emotional stability. However, as Drumstetter realizes the hollow existence surrounding him and the society that continues to perpetuate this illusion, he ultimately rejects the artificiality of pseudo-life, indicating a desperate need for genuine human experiences and connections.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Dead End
- Author credits: Macfarlane, Wallace (1918–1999)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Death -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- 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
