A Wireless Message by Ambrose Bierce
"A Wireless Message" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man named Smith, who is on a mission to deliver an important message to his friend via a wireless telegraph. However, the message is intercepted by a rival and Smith must navigate dangerous circumstances to retrieve it and deliver it to his friend. The story explores themes of technology, communication, and loyalty.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Short Story, Horror, Science Fiction · 932 words
First lines
IN the summer of 1896 Mr. William Holt, a wealthy manufacturer of Chicago, was living temporarily in a little town of central New York, the name of which the writer's memory has not retained. Mr. Holt had had "trouble with his wife," from whom he had parted a year before. Whether the trouble was anything more serious than "incompatibility of temper," he is probably the only living person that knows: he is not addicted to the vice of confidences. Yet he has related the incident herein set down to at least one person without exacting a pledge of secrecy. He is now living in Europe.
What this Textopian page supports
A Wireless Message is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Horror, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Ghost Story
- Length: 932 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Wireless Message by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Massacre by Ambrose Bierce
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Genres
- Short Story — The book 'A Wireless Message' is a classically structured short story.
- Horror — The plot deals with elements of suspense and uncanny occurrences common in horror fiction.
- Science Fiction — The use of a wireless telegraph - a high-tech invention of the time - to convey messages from the dead connects this work to science fiction.
- Supernatural — The story entails supernatural aspects where a dead wife transmits messages to her husband.
Tags
mystery · thriller · sci-fi · futuristic · technology · communication · messages · wireless · innovation · inventions · fiction · short story