The Air of Castor Oil: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Air of Castor Oil: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Air of Castor Oil is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Harmon, Jim (1933–2010).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Air of Castor Oil" by Jim Harmon is a science fiction novella published in the early 1960s. The narrative is centered around a main character who finds himself trapped in a conflict between the past and the present, highlighting themes of nostalgia and existential crisis. Through the protagonist's journey, the novella delves into the psychological effects of time travel and memory, blurring the line between reality and imagination. In the story, Hilliard Turner becomes increasingly obsessed with the world of World War I aviation, spending his time in a small bookstore that specializes in vintage air-war magazines. As Turner immerses himself in nostalgia, he begins to lose touch with reality, leading to dangerous encounters with authorities who misunderstand his intentions. This gripping tale explores Turner's struggle against a society that tries to imprison him in the present, while he longs for the experiences and memories of a past he may have never truly lived. Ultimately, as he confronts a psychiatrist who reveals the shocking truth about his condition, Turner’s journey becomes a reflection on identity and the influence of nostalgia on human experience.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Air of Castor Oil
- Author credits: Harmon, Jim (1933–2010)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Psychiatry/Psychology
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Science Fiction
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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.


