The band played on: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The band played on: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The band played on is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Shook, C..
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Band Played On" by C. Shook is a science fiction story published in the early 1940s, originally featured in "Astonishing Stories." This narrative follows a jazz musician, McRae, who unexpectedly finds himself transported to a bizarre world after a performance. The book's central theme revolves around the intersection of music and fantastical adventure, exploring how creativity can transcend dimensions. In the story, McRae, while playing the trombone at a local bar, suddenly experiences a strange phenomenon that catapults him into a vivid realm where the grass is purple, and the inhabitants resemble anthropomorphic ducks. He is initially captured by these creatures but gradually gains their trust and becomes integrated into their society, sharing his love of music. As he adapts to this unusual environment, the peace is disrupted by a dangerous enemy, the animal men. Ultimately, through an intense crescendo on his trombone, McRae unlocks a path back to his dimension, realizing the power of music not only as a form of expression but also as a bridge between worlds. Returning to reality, he grapples with the profound experience and its implications, both on a personal level and for the art he cherishes.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The band played on
- Author credits: Shook, C.
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Fourth dimension -- Fiction
- Musicians -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- Time travel -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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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.


