A Filbert Is a Nut

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Raphael, Rick, 1919-1994

Series:

Produced from Astounding Science Fiction November 1959.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"A Filbert Is a Nut" by Rick Raphael is a science fiction short story published in the late 1950s. The narrative revolves around the absurd concept of a patient in a mental institution reportedly creating an atomic bomb out of modeling clay. Through a blend of dark humor and satire, the story critiques the perception of sanity and genius, particularly in the context of the Cold War era's obsession with nuclear technology. The plot unfolds in a mental hospital, where the main character, Thaddeus Funston, engages in art therapy by molding clay. Unbeknownst to the staff, his creations take on a dangerous life of their own. After a nighttime explosion destroys the crafts building, military and scientific personnel become embroiled in an investigation to understand how a bomb was created in a seemingly innocuous setting. The narrative escalates as Funston is taken to a military testing facility, where he successfully replicates the explosion, leading to discussions about the nature of genius and insanity. Ultimately, the story culminates in a grand, ironic conclusion, reflecting the anxiety and absurdity of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 72.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2007-11-22