The Margenes: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Margenes: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Margenes is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for De Ford, Miriam Allen (1888–1975).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Margenes" by Miriam Allen De Ford is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores the unexpected consequences of a strange new organism, the margenes, which appear on California's beaches and are discovered to be a highly nutritious food source, potentially solving global malnutrition issues. At its core, the story delves into themes of economic upheaval, societal transformation, and the unpredictable nature of human reliance on external resources. The plot begins during a nighttime grunion run when college students Marge Hickin and Gene Towanda find curious, doughnut-shaped creatures that lead to the creation of a revolutionary food industry. As margenes gain popularity due to their nutritional value, they transform global economies, leading to unprecedented prosperity and social stability initially. However, this newfound reliance becomes catastrophic when the margenes mysteriously vanish, resulting in widespread turmoil, conflict, and eventual devastation. Through the rise and fall of the margene industry, the story poses thought-provoking questions about humanity's relationship with innovation and nature, ultimately serving as a cautionary tale about the fragility of societal structures built on singular dependencies.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Margenes
- Author credits: De Ford, Miriam Allen (1888–1975)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- 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.


