Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus by Winston K. Marks
"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.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Marks, Winston K. (Winston Kinney), 1915-1979 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Terry, W. E., 1921-1992 |
| Title | Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus |
| Series Title | Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy February 1955 |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.1 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Man-woman relationships -- Fiction |
| Subject | Hunting stories |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 66461 |
| Release Date | Oct 3, 2021 |
| Most Recently Updated | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 352 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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