The Leech: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Leech: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Leech is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Sheckley, Robert (1928–2005).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Leech" by Phillips Barbee is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story revolves around a monstrous, extraterrestrial life form that resembles a leech, which awakens after landing on Earth and begins to consume everything in its path. As its insatiable hunger drives it to grow uncontrollably, a battle ensues between the natural phenomena of this alien creature and the military’s attempts to contain and ultimately destroy it. The plot follows Professor Micheals, who discovers the leech when it begins to disrupt his peaceful summer. As the leech grows, devouring soil, structures, and eventually the military's attempted interventions, it becomes an insidious threat that the government seeks to eliminate. General O'Donnell, determined to assert military dominance, proposes drastic measures such as nuclear bombs to destroy the leech. However, as the creature reacts unpredictably and continues to grow, it becomes clear that brute force may not be the solution. In a climactic twist, the military’s efforts to destroy the leech inadvertently lead to its spread across the universe in the form of microscopic spores, raising questions about humanity's relationship with the unknown and its tendency towards destruction.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Leech
- Author credits: Sheckley, Robert (1928–2005)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- 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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