Subject
Telephone -- Fiction Books
Best books
Ray Bradbury
I, Mars
I, Mars by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The story centers on isolation and self-inflicted psychological torment as a stranded colonist on Mars confronts his own voice preserved in machines. Emil Barton, left alone on Mars after an atomic war recalls Earth’s colonists, survives by wiring the planet with telephones and tapes of his younger self to simulate companionship. Decades later, now old and frail, those recordings begin to taunt him, reminding him of youth and hope while exposing his present despair. He once tried to animate empty towns with sounds, scents, and even robots—only to drown the robots when the delusion became unbearable. Lured by a fake call from a “rocket captain,” he drives across Mars hoping for rescue, finds only empty tarmacs and more machines, and in a final rage smashes phones until his heart fails. The last voices left are two youthful Bartons, mechanically linked, cheerfully talking and laughing, oblivious to the real man’s death.
Charles R. Barnes
On the Sweeny wire
"On the Sweeny Wire" by Charles R. Barnes is a crime fiction story written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around Belle Sweeny, the widow of a race-track gambler, who becomes entangled in intrigue and deception when she listens in on conversations over their party telephone line. The book explores themes of curiosity, betrayal, and the consequences of eavesdropping, as Belle's actions set off a chain of events in the underworld of gambling. In the story, Belle Sweeny’s mundane life takes an unexpected turn when she overhears a conversation that leads her to believe there's an insider winning horse race tip. As she attempts to leverage this information to change her and her husband's fortune, she unwittingly becomes embroiled in a plot orchestrated by Mike the Wop, a character with questionable motives. Belle’s desire for involvement leads her to eavesdrop more frequently, ultimately putting her husband at risk from a well-laid trap. The climax reveals Belle's missteps as the scheme unravels, underscoring the dangers of her curiosity and the foreshadowed consequences of the secrets shared over the telephone wire. The story captures the thrill and tension of gambling alongside the personal dilemmas that arise from Belle's choices.
Murray Leinster
Sam, This Is You
"Sam, This Is You" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story centers around a telephone lineman named Sam Yoder, who unexpectedly discovers a way to communicate with his future self through a malfunctioning phone line. This intriguing twist leads Sam on a journey that merges time travel with elements of comedy and romance as he grapples with the unforeseen consequences of his actions and the secrets that are unveiled along the way. The narrative unfolds as Sam receives a call from himself from the future, which presents both opportunities and challenges. Initially excited by the potential for fortune-making knowledge relayed to him by his future self, Sam's plans soon unravel when he realizes the implications of having his private life exposed and the difficulty of maintaining a romantic relationship with Rosie, his fiancée. As the story progresses, Sam's future self becomes embroiled in a bank robbery plot—an alarming revelation that puts Sam in a moral quandary. With Rosie's help, he confronts the issue, ultimately leading to unexpected heroes and comedic turns as they navigate a path filled with personal and ethical dilemmas. The story combines light-hearted humor with introspective moments, exploring themes of fate, identity, and love.
Walter J. Sheldon
Your Time is Up
"Your Time is Up" by Walter J. Sheldon is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around Colonel Lawrence E. Boggs, a career officer in the U.S. Army, who inadvertently connects through a telephone with a historical technician from the future named Zon Twenty. The novella explores themes of time travel, destiny, and the moral implications of knowledge about the future. The plot begins with Colonel Boggs receiving a strange phone call that leads him to discuss historical events with Zon Twenty, who reveals that Colonel Boggs's era is on the brink of a "Final War." As Boggs becomes increasingly tempted by the prospect of using information about future events to advance his career and ensure his survival, he engages in a risky exchange of questions and answers with Zon. However, as the conversation progresses, it becomes apparent that the knowledge Boggs seeks has dangerous ramifications. The story culminates in a dark twist that highlights the potential for hubris and the unforeseen consequences of trying to manipulate fate.
Clee Garson
Direct Wire
"Direct Wire" by Clee Garson is a short story written in the early 1940s, likely during World War II. This narrative combines elements of comedy and satire as it explores themes of patriotism, gambling, and communication under unusual circumstances. The story unfolds in a cigar store run by two bookmakers, Mort Robbins and Mike Harrigan, who find themselves getting bizarre phone calls that lead to unexpected and humorous implications. In the content of the story, Mort and Mike, who are not overly patriotic, mysteriously enlist in the army after a series of strange phone calls where a man claiming to be the Angel Gabriel insists on speaking to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. As the story progresses, the two men attempt to handle this unusual situation while running their gambling operations. Ultimately, the connection becomes more absurd as they realize that the phone call is not just a prank, but an elaborate joke that plays on their understanding of reality. The twist at the end reveals that the phone was, in fact, disconnected the entire time, emphasizing the absurdity of their circumstances and the comedic genius of Garson's writing.
Recently surfaced classics