The Great Potlatch Riots: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Great Potlatch Riots: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Great Potlatch Riots is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Lang, Allen Kim (1928–?).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Great Potlatch Riots" by Allen Kim Lang is a satirical science fiction novella written during the late 1950s. The book humorously critiques consumer culture and the bureaucratic regulation of personal celebrations, particularly revolving around the commercialization of holidays and birthdays. Set in a future where the Bureau of Seasonal Gratuities oversees gift-giving quotas to stimulate the economy, the narrative explores the absurdity of enforced gratitude and the societal pressures placed on individuals to comply. The story follows Captain Wesley Winfree, a fervent officer within the Bureau, as he prepares for the largest Potlatch Day in two decades while also planning his wedding to Corporal Peggy MacHenery. Winfree's ambitious new initiative—requiring citizens to celebrate every birthday with gifts—sparks outrage among consumers who are already burdened by existing holiday quotas. As tensions escalate, a rebellion against the Bureau's enforcement leads to chaotic riots on the day of Winfree's wedding, highlighting the conflicts between individual desires and imposed societal norms. The narrative concludes with a humorous twist, as the Captain's encounter with the consumers forces both him and the readers to reflect on the true meaning of celebration and autonomy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Great Potlatch Riots
- Author credits: Lang, Allen Kim (1928–?)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Consumption (Economics) -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Novels
- 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.
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