The Futile Flight of John Arthur Benn: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Futile Flight of John Arthur Benn: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Futile Flight of John Arthur Benn is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Wilson, Richard (1920–1987).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Futile Flight of John Arthur Benn" by Edward Halibut is a science fiction short story published in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores the concept of time travel through the experiences of the protagonist, John Arthur Benn, as he navigates various historical periods and reflections on life, ultimately arriving at a poignant, tragic conclusion. With its unique premise and dark humor, the tale delves into the futility of escapism and the consequences of one’s choices. The story follows John Arthur Benn as he embarks on a whimsical yet perilous journey backwards in time, gaining fleeting glimpses of history—from the roaring twenties to the prehistoric era. His sense of adventure quickly turns to futility as he grapples with the absurdities of his situation, punctured by dangerous encounters, like being chased by a wild boar. After experiencing the disorienting effects of time travel and the subsequent realization of his inescapable reality, Benn finds himself back in 1956, leading to a tragic and darkly ironic self-conclusion. The story serves as a satirical reflection on the human desire to avoid present struggles through escapism, exposing the often harsh realities that lie beneath.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Futile Flight of John Arthur Benn
- Author credits: Wilson, Richard (1920–1987)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- Time travel -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
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
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
