The Basking Cyclone by Ambrose Bierce
The Basking Cyclone is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. It follows the tale of a man who becomes trapped in a cyclone while basking in the sun on a beach. The man is swept away by the storm and finds himself in a strange, dream-like world where he encounters various surreal creatures and landscapes. Despite his initial terror, the man begins to enjoy his new surroundings and learns to appreciate the beauty of the cyclone. Ultimately, he realizes that the cyclone is not a destructive force, but rather a transformative one that has changed him forever.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Short Fiction, Humor · 117 words
First lines
A Negro in a boat, gathering driftwood, saw a sleeping Alligator, and, thinking it was a log, fell to estimating the number of shingles it would make for his new cabin. Having satisfied his mind on that point, he stuck his boat-hook into the beast's back to harvest his good fortune.
Thereupon the saurian emerged from his dream and took to the water, greatly to the surprise of the man-and-brother.
"I never befo' seen such a cyclone as dat," he exclaimed as soon as he had recovered his breath. "It done carry away de ruf of my house!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Basking Cyclone is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 117 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Basking Cyclone by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- The Divided Delegation by Ambrose Bierce
- Dark Dignum by Bernard Capes
- Genesis by Ambrose Bierce
- Dudas A Prisoner In Fairyland by Algernon Blackwood
- The Realm Of The Unreal by Ambrose Bierce
- The Satyr by Barry Pain
Genres
- Satire — The story critiques human folly and misconceptions through humor and irony.
- Short Fiction — The work is a brief narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Humor — The absurdity of the situation and the character's reaction provide comedic elements.
- Fantasy — The presence of an alligator and the surreal nature of the encounter lend a fantastical quality.
Tags
Fiction · Short Story · Horror · Supernatural · Mystery · Detective · Whodunit · Thriller · Adventure · Science Fiction · Fantasy · Magic Realism