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Classic Literature

In the Garden: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

In the Garden: 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

In the Garden is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Lafferty, R. A. (1914–2002).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"In the Garden" by R. A. Lafferty is a science fiction short story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around a space exploration crew who discovers a peculiar moon that appears to be a pristine garden inhabited by only two individuals, Ha-Adamah and Hawwah, who mirror the biblical Adam and Eve. The thematic exploration touches on concepts of innocence, paradise, and the nature of humanity. The story begins with the crew of the spaceship Little Probe landing on a seemingly idyllic moon where they encounter the two glowing inhabitants. The inhabitants engage with the crew in a dialogue that raises profound questions about identity, existence, and the nature of "people." The captain, Stark, and his crew grapple with the paradox of a perfect paradise that is devoid of civilization while also revealing their skepticism about its authenticity. As they explore the garden and partake in its bountiful fruits, they grow increasingly enchanted, until the captain expresses a profound belief in its purity. However, the tale culminates in an ironic twist, as the crew learns that the paradise may be a construct by a malevolent serpent, unveiling the fragility of the perfect world they believed they encountered.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: In the Garden
  • Author credits: Lafferty, R. A. (1914–2002)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Life on other planets -- Fiction
  • Outer space -- Exploration -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • 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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