A Silurian Holiday by Ambrose Bierce
A Silurian Holiday by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that follows the journey of a man who has been invited to spend his holidays in a mysterious place called Siluria. The protagonist, who remains unnamed throughout the story, finds himself in a world unlike any he has ever known, filled with strange creatures and customs. Despite his initial excitement and curiosity, the man soon realizes that something is not quite right in this seemingly idyllic paradise. As he explores Siluria further, he discovers dark secrets and unsettling truths about the place and its inhabitants. The story builds towards a chilling climax, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Alternative History, Science Fiction, Adventure · 241 words
First lines
'Tis Master Fitch, the editor; He takes an holiday.
Now wherefore, venerable sir, So resolutely gay?
He lifts his head, he laughs aloud, Odzounds! 'tis drear to see! "Because the Boodle-Scribbler crowd Will soon be far from me.
"Full many a year I've striven well To freeze the caitiffs out By making this good town a Hell, But still they hang about.
What this Textopian page supports
A Silurian Holiday is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Alternative History, Science Fiction, Adventure, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 241 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Silurian Holiday by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Silurian Holiday?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Alternative History first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Alternative History — The Silurian period is an era in Earth's history, indicating the story is likely an alternate history or presents a modified timeline.
- Science Fiction — The potential manipulation of time and scientific concepts falls into the realm of science fiction.
- Adventure — With 'holiday' in the title, there's likely a journey or series of events integral to the plot, therefore resulting in an adventure.
- Speculative Fiction — The reference to specific time period may engage in the exploration of various realities or hypothetical situations, which falls under speculative fiction.
Tags
gothic fiction · horror · supernatural · victorian era · romance · mystery · fantasy · speculative fiction · short story collection · humorous fiction · satire · social commentary