panguardian
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2025
- Messages
- 1
This is a long shot. I cannot find the anthology or story for the life of me.
I read this story in a children's' sci-fi anthology in the 70s. It was an anthology that was in a classroom. It would have been produced specifically to supply to schoolchildren. I was probably about 12, so the book was from about 1979, and could have been published at any date in the 70s prior to that date, though I guess it was probably published around 1975-76. It was the last story in the anthology. It was the last story I read because I didn't like the title. No idea why.
The story structure was very simple and beautifully written, and went as follows:
A solitary observer witnesses by chance a strange a procession of humans that spans the history of humanity.
The procession takes place in a short period, maybe during a single night. Towards the end, he observes human beings carrying huge computers or machines in the form of pyramids that weigh them down as a great burden. The humans have become slaves to machines.
However, in a final burst of hope, the last humans alter and become strange and wonderful, like jesters. They dance, and their limbs bend in strange ways.
Not a lot to go on. I get the feeling it may have occurred near the sea, during the night. The style was quite "classic", so I wonder if it was H G Wells or Olaf Stapledon, but I have not found it there. The story was not long. A few pages at most.
Other stories that may have been in the anthology possibly include Air Raid by John Varley, but I searched that I found nothing. I thought it might be an anthology to do with monsters or aliens, but I think I found that, and it does not include it. All I know is that it is kids UK sci-fi school anthology from the 70s.
I read this story in a children's' sci-fi anthology in the 70s. It was an anthology that was in a classroom. It would have been produced specifically to supply to schoolchildren. I was probably about 12, so the book was from about 1979, and could have been published at any date in the 70s prior to that date, though I guess it was probably published around 1975-76. It was the last story in the anthology. It was the last story I read because I didn't like the title. No idea why.
The story structure was very simple and beautifully written, and went as follows:
A solitary observer witnesses by chance a strange a procession of humans that spans the history of humanity.
The procession takes place in a short period, maybe during a single night. Towards the end, he observes human beings carrying huge computers or machines in the form of pyramids that weigh them down as a great burden. The humans have become slaves to machines.
However, in a final burst of hope, the last humans alter and become strange and wonderful, like jesters. They dance, and their limbs bend in strange ways.
Not a lot to go on. I get the feeling it may have occurred near the sea, during the night. The style was quite "classic", so I wonder if it was H G Wells or Olaf Stapledon, but I have not found it there. The story was not long. A few pages at most.
Other stories that may have been in the anthology possibly include Air Raid by John Varley, but I searched that I found nothing. I thought it might be an anthology to do with monsters or aliens, but I think I found that, and it does not include it. All I know is that it is kids UK sci-fi school anthology from the 70s.
