It was the year 2081 and everyone was finally equal. A few amendments to the Constitution have made everyone equal. A Government agency enforces this and is the most powerful force in the country.
Anyone that is considered above average is given a handicap so it makes them equal with the rest of the population. This ranges from carrying heavy bags to having mental devices that limit and control thought.
Hazel and George are some of the main characters. They are watching the news one day when a story comes on about Harrison escaping from jail and interrupting a dance program. He breaks down the studio door and commands that everyone watch as he removes his handicaps to become leader of the world.
He dances better than anyone has every seen and he kisses one of the ballerinas that were performing when he broke down the door. He is killed by the agency and everyone watching the program has their memories of the event erased.
Hazel and George witness their son's death and are extremely sad, but they don't remember what they're sad about. They go on and continue to live their lives as extremely average people.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Fall of The House of Usher Summary
This short story starts off with a narrator that arrives at a large creepy mansion owned by the Usher family. His host tells us that he and his sister are the last survivors of the Usher family.
The man living in home is ill and is very susceptible to light and sound. He says it's because his sister suffered from seizures. He then explains his family's love for the arts(literature, music and art).
Soon, the host's sister dies. Later that week, the narrator and Usher are reading a book to pass the time when they hear banging and noises coming from the basement of the spooky mansion. He screams "Madeline is coming back to life!" and gets out of bed.
Madeline comes bursting through the bedroom door and takes down her brother, killing them both in the process. The narrator runs away and watches as the house cracks in two and sinks into the ground below it.
The man living in home is ill and is very susceptible to light and sound. He says it's because his sister suffered from seizures. He then explains his family's love for the arts(literature, music and art).
Soon, the host's sister dies. Later that week, the narrator and Usher are reading a book to pass the time when they hear banging and noises coming from the basement of the spooky mansion. He screams "Madeline is coming back to life!" and gets out of bed.
Madeline comes bursting through the bedroom door and takes down her brother, killing them both in the process. The narrator runs away and watches as the house cracks in two and sinks into the ground below it.
The Sphinx Short Story Summary
The Sphinx starts off with a man spending a night at a relative's house. During his stay, he talked with his friend about omens and demons in such because he has had a personal experience with them. He is convinced they exist and praises those that believe as he does.
Foreshadowing, he says he came across an incident so inexplicable that he could have regarded it as an omen. While looking out the window he notices a large beast walking on a hill on the horizon. He describes it as larger than any ship he's seen and says he was not mad nor in a dream.
He continues to describe the beast he has seen as scaly with two wings and massive jaws. He is struck with fear and talks to his friend to come and look. His friend sees nothing and he goes away, forgetting the incident entirely.
The next day, he sees the same monster and tells his friend. His friend moves to a bookshelf and pulls out a book, he reads him the description of the animal and he agrees that is indeed what he has seen.
His friend tells him it was a description of a fly.
The man realizes that the beast he thinks he sees on the horizon is no more than a sixteenth of an inch long, and about a sixteenth of an inch from the pupil of his eye.
Foreshadowing, he says he came across an incident so inexplicable that he could have regarded it as an omen. While looking out the window he notices a large beast walking on a hill on the horizon. He describes it as larger than any ship he's seen and says he was not mad nor in a dream.
He continues to describe the beast he has seen as scaly with two wings and massive jaws. He is struck with fear and talks to his friend to come and look. His friend sees nothing and he goes away, forgetting the incident entirely.
The next day, he sees the same monster and tells his friend. His friend moves to a bookshelf and pulls out a book, he reads him the description of the animal and he agrees that is indeed what he has seen.
His friend tells him it was a description of a fly.
The man realizes that the beast he thinks he sees on the horizon is no more than a sixteenth of an inch long, and about a sixteenth of an inch from the pupil of his eye.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Summary of The Decent into the Maelstrom
The Decent into the Maelstrom begins with an unnamed narrator saying that his group has reached the summit of a mountain. As one character speaks to other, one begins to recount his encounter with the a great whirlpool.
The narrator tells the man that him and his brothers used to fish near the maelstrom because it was where the best fishing was. Although it was the best, it was also the most dangerous. A massive whirlpool would form daily and the fishermen had to maneuver and plan around this phenomenon.
One day, the whirlpool fails to form on time and forms earlier than usually. The whirlpool pulls them in and as they descend into the massive hole, one fisherman notices round objects descend much slower than any other object. He decides to strap himself to a barrel and jumps into the whirlpool in an attempt to outlast the duration of the whirlpool as his brother rides the ship to his death.
The fishermen survives but has had many physical changes to his body and was unrecognizable.
The narrator tells the man that him and his brothers used to fish near the maelstrom because it was where the best fishing was. Although it was the best, it was also the most dangerous. A massive whirlpool would form daily and the fishermen had to maneuver and plan around this phenomenon.
One day, the whirlpool fails to form on time and forms earlier than usually. The whirlpool pulls them in and as they descend into the massive hole, one fisherman notices round objects descend much slower than any other object. He decides to strap himself to a barrel and jumps into the whirlpool in an attempt to outlast the duration of the whirlpool as his brother rides the ship to his death.
The fishermen survives but has had many physical changes to his body and was unrecognizable.
The Interlopers Summary
The Interlopers involves two families that have been feuding over a strip of forest for decades. The courts ruled in the Gradwitz family's favour but the Znaeym family never accepted this.
One night, Ulrich takes a group of men into the forest with him searching for his enemy as he suspects he is hunting game on his land. When they finally come face to face, a lightning bolt strikes the tree and it falls, pinning them both to the floor, right beside each other.
As they sit talking, they speak of what is going to happen when their men reach them first, how they will kill the other when their men release them from this massive tree. Ulrich drinks his wine flask and after a while he offers it to Georg. He wants to end their feud and Georg agrees. They offer to be friends after this ordeal.
They decide to shout for their men to find them. After shouting for some time, they hear footsteps and noises in the distance. They shout louder as what they think are men come closer. When they get close enough, the men realize that these are not men, but are hungry wolves on their way to eat the two defenseless men.
One night, Ulrich takes a group of men into the forest with him searching for his enemy as he suspects he is hunting game on his land. When they finally come face to face, a lightning bolt strikes the tree and it falls, pinning them both to the floor, right beside each other.
As they sit talking, they speak of what is going to happen when their men reach them first, how they will kill the other when their men release them from this massive tree. Ulrich drinks his wine flask and after a while he offers it to Georg. He wants to end their feud and Georg agrees. They offer to be friends after this ordeal.
They decide to shout for their men to find them. After shouting for some time, they hear footsteps and noises in the distance. They shout louder as what they think are men come closer. When they get close enough, the men realize that these are not men, but are hungry wolves on their way to eat the two defenseless men.
Hawk of The Hills Summary
Hawk of The Hills takes place in Afghanistan and is told from a view two different perspectives, one being El Borak and the other being Geoffrey Willoughby. It starts off with El Borak and his tribes being invited to a feast by a man named Afdal Khan. When they arrive, all of them are slaughtered in the night and El Borak is the only survivor. This begins a war between Afdal Khan and his men and El Borak and his.
Geoffrey Willoughby, Geoff for short, is a British diplomat and is being escorted by Afdal Khan's uncle. Geoff believes the war can be solved via diplomacy and tries to convince Afdal Khan to peacefully apologize to and compensate El Borak. His attempt fails so his Uncle abandons him and rides off.
Afdal Khan's uncle's men move to kill Geoff when El Borak and his men come and capture him from their grasps. They are attacked by the men as they hide in a cave for an entire day. When night falls, El Borak sneaks out, kills a guard and escapes unnoticed. El Borak's men take Geoff to a stronghold where they begin to organize a rescue plan for El Borak, but before they can he appears on the horizon.
The stronghold is barraged with a large force but the defenses are too strong to be defeated. Geoff thinks he can end the war if he can get to Fort Ghazrael so El Borak guarantees his safe exit from the stronghold.
Eventually, Afdal Khan agrees to meet Geoff alone. When Geoff gets there, Afdal Khan betrays his word and tells Geoff that he is going to kill him. Right before he is killed, El Borak comes out of the rocks and challenges Afdal to a sword fight to the death. El Borak wins and the war ends.
Yay.
Geoffrey Willoughby, Geoff for short, is a British diplomat and is being escorted by Afdal Khan's uncle. Geoff believes the war can be solved via diplomacy and tries to convince Afdal Khan to peacefully apologize to and compensate El Borak. His attempt fails so his Uncle abandons him and rides off.
Afdal Khan's uncle's men move to kill Geoff when El Borak and his men come and capture him from their grasps. They are attacked by the men as they hide in a cave for an entire day. When night falls, El Borak sneaks out, kills a guard and escapes unnoticed. El Borak's men take Geoff to a stronghold where they begin to organize a rescue plan for El Borak, but before they can he appears on the horizon.
The stronghold is barraged with a large force but the defenses are too strong to be defeated. Geoff thinks he can end the war if he can get to Fort Ghazrael so El Borak guarantees his safe exit from the stronghold.
Eventually, Afdal Khan agrees to meet Geoff alone. When Geoff gets there, Afdal Khan betrays his word and tells Geoff that he is going to kill him. Right before he is killed, El Borak comes out of the rocks and challenges Afdal to a sword fight to the death. El Borak wins and the war ends.
Yay.
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