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Classic Literature

Picnic: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Picnic: 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

Picnic is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Marlowe, Stephen (1928–2008).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Picnic" by Milton Lesser is a science fiction narrative written in the early 1950s. The story revolves around a family's weekend tradition of picnicking on asteroids, but this particular outing takes an unexpected turn into danger and discovery. The book explores themes of family dynamics amidst outer space adventure and the unknown. The plot follows Burt, a frustrated father, as he takes his wife Marcia and their two children, Johnny and Joan, to an asteroid for a picnic. During their excursion, Burt discovers the wreck of an old spaceship, leading to a series of strange and terrifying events. The situation escalates when a mysterious force begins manipulating the environment around them, posing a threat to their safety. As they grapple with panic and survival, Burt realizes that the asteroid itself may be a sentient entity. Ultimately, they manage to escape in their spaceship, but the experience profoundly alters Burt's perspective on their weekend jaunts, prompting him to vow never to return for picnics again.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Picnic
  • Author credits: Marlowe, Stephen (1928–2008)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Asteroids -- Fiction
  • Families -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Novels
  • Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy

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

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