The Last Letter: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Last Letter: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Last Letter is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Leiber, Fritz (1910–1992).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Last Letter" by Fritz Leiber is a science fiction short story that was published in the late 1950s, a period marked by experimental ideas and innovative narratives in the genre. The story revolves around a future society that relies heavily on automated communication, where the concept of personal letters is almost alien and has dangerous ramifications when suddenly encountered. The narrative follows a hopeless romantic, Richard Rowe, who causes a cascade of chaos in the robotic postal system by attempting to send a handwritten love letter to Jane Dough, a girl he briefly encountered during a tour. This simple act of personal communication triggers a catastrophic failure in the machines responsible for sorting mail, leading to widespread confusion and the mobilization of the authorities. As Richard's heartfelt message is met with disbelief and panic, it culminates in a serendipitous meeting with Jane, ultimately bringing about an unexpected resolution that challenges the sterile norm of their society. The story explores themes of love, individuality, and the human desire for connection in an increasingly automated world.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Last Letter
- Author credits: Leiber, Fritz (1910–1992)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Letters -- Fiction
- Postal service -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Romance
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
- Science Fiction
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
