The Man Who Killed the World: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Man Who Killed the World: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Man Who Killed the World is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Cummings, Ray (1887–1957).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Man Who Killed the World" by Ray Cummings is a science fiction short story published in the early 20th century. The narrative explores themes of power, fear, and the isolation that accompanies absolute control. The story delves into the psyche of Peter Groff, a man who rules through intimidation and greed, illustrating the moral implications of his quest for dominance over humanity. The plot centers around Peter Groff, the epitome of a tyrant whose power stems from his wealth and the fear he instills in others. As he observes a young couple expressing joy despite their poverty, Groff becomes enraged and determines to unleash a devastating weapon that will annihilate the world's population, seeking to demonstrate the extent of his power. However, when he ultimately achieves his goal of becoming the sole survivor in a world devoid of life, Groff is left to confront the hollowness of his victory and the absence of fear that once defined his existence. The story paints a poignant picture of the emptiness that can accompany unbridled power, leaving Groff haunted by the very humanity he sought to destroy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Man Who Killed the World
- Author credits: Cummings, Ray (1887–1957)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Biological weapons -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
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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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