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Classic Literature

The Autumn After Next: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Autumn After Next: 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

The Autumn After Next is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for St. Clair, Margaret (1911–1995).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Autumn After Next" by Margaret St. Clair is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s. The story explores themes of magic and cultural dissonance through the experiences of Neeshan, a wizard missionary trying to teach a lazy and indifferent tribe called the Free'l about the proper use of magic. The novella highlights the challenges of bridging different worldviews, especially when one party lacks the motivation to engage with the teachings being offered. The plot centers around Neeshan's frustrating attempts to instruct the Free'l in performing spells accurately. Despite his efforts to demonstrate the efficacy and power of magic, the Free'l remain mostly apathetic to the practices he teaches, preferring simple pleasures over the diligence required for true magical mastery. When Neeshan's attempts to implement a more aggressive teaching strategy backfire, he discovers that the very spells he influenced them to cast to rid themselves of him inadvertently result in his transformation into a stone statue. Ultimately, the story reflects on human (and non-human) behavior, the consequences of manipulation, and the persistence of community faith in magic, even in the face of failure.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Autumn After Next
  • Author credits: St. Clair, Margaret (1911–1995)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Life on other planets -- Fiction
  • Magic -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • 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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