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The Aggravation of Elmer: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Aggravation of Elmer: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

The Aggravation of Elmer is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Arthur, Robert (1909–1969).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Aggravation of Elmer" by Robert Arthur is a science fiction short story published in the mid-20th century. The narrative revolves around a young boy named Elmer, who possesses remarkable scientific abilities, causing both intrigue and trouble for the adults in his life. The story blends elements of humor and adventure, exploring themes of youth versus adulthood, and the unintended consequences of genius. The plot begins when Bill Rawlins, the protagonist, encounters an unusual traffic jam caused by a mysterious device created by Elmer, a thirteen-year-old boy genius from South America. Elmer’s invention, dubbed the "unhappen genii," has the power to stop all electric devices, leading to widespread chaos. As Bill learns more about Elmer's capabilities, he becomes eager to harness the boy's inventions for commercial gain. However, things take a chaotic turn when Elmer's experiments with anti-gravitation results in an explosion that sends his garage, and possibly himself, into unknown territory. The story culminates in a humorous yet cautionary tale about the dangers of recklessness in the pursuit of knowledge and the complexities of youthful ingenuity.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Aggravation of Elmer
  • Author credits: Arthur, Robert (1909–1969)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Humour
  • 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.

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