Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marks, Winston K. (Winston Kinney), 1915-1979.

Contributor:

Terry, W. E., 1921-1992

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus" by Winston K. Marks is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century, likely during the 1950s. The narrative revolves around an interstellar hunting expedition where the main character, a bachelor and minor landholder, teams up with Major Daphne, a wealthy and boisterous hunter. The tale explores themes of greed, desire, and the consequences of hubris in a distant universe filled with strange creatures and moral complexities. The story follows the protagonist as he reluctantly accompanies Major Daphne and his harem of beautiful women on a hunting trip to Tigursh II, a planet he owns but has neglected. As they engage with the alien wildlife, particularly the dangerous Wampus, relationships evolve, revealing darker facets of the characters. Annellica, Daphne's wife, emerges as a critical figure, revealing her own complexities and dissatisfaction with her life. The tale culminates in a tragic confrontation with the Wampus that leads to chaos and ultimately death, forcing the protagonist to reassess his life choices and the nature of his relationships. The story concludes with a twist, defying the conventional expectations of a hunting story and leaving the reader with a sense of irony regarding the brutal realities of both hunting and human relationships. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 84.1 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2021-10-03