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"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?": Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?": author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?" is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Bukstein, I. M..

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?" by I. M. Bukstein is a short story that blends elements of humor and science fiction, likely written in the early 1950s. The narrative presents a rural family's experience following the mysterious disappearance of one of their sons, Willie, who is depicted as an oddball amidst his more conventional siblings. The story explores themes of familial relationships, societal perceptions of intelligence and normalcy, and the all-too-human tendency to overlook those who may not fit neatly into societal norms. The plot unfolds from the perspective of Willie's father as he reflects on Willie's peculiarities and contrasts him with his other children. Willie, who often asked outlandish questions and struggled with traditional farming tasks, goes missing around the time of an unusual phenomenon involving strange lights in the sky. As the family searches for him, the father's initial indifference turns into a feeling of curiosity about Willie's fate. The story culminates in an unexpected reunion, revealing that Willie has returned with unusual companions, hinting at an extraterrestrial element. This twist adds a humorous touch to the father's worries and highlights the absurdity of their situation while also suggesting that even the least favored family member can have remarkable adventures.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: "Hey Ma, Where's Willie?"
  • Author credits: Bukstein, I. M.
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Farmers -- Fiction
  • Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
  • Category: Short Stories

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.

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