The Literary Astronomer by Ambrose Bierce
The Literary Astronomer is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1897. It follows the journey of an astronomer who becomes obsessed with finding a new planet that he believes exists beyond the reaches of his telescope. Despite the ridicule and skepticism of his peers, the astronomer continues to search for the elusive planet, even as it threatens to destroy his own life and relationships. Your Question: What is the main theme of The Literary Astronomer?
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1898 · Genre: Science Fiction, Science & Technology, Satire · 177 words
First lines
The Director of an Observatory, who, with a thirty-six-inch refractor, had discovered the moon, hastened to an Editor, with a four-column account of the event.
"How much?" said the Editor, sententiously, without looking up from his essay on the circularity of the political horizon.
"One hundred and sixty dollars," replied the man who had discovered the moon.
"Not half enough," was the Editor's comment.
What this Textopian page supports
The Literary Astronomer is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Science & Technology, Satire, Historical, Literary Fiction
- Length: 177 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Literary Astronomer 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
Similar titles
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The title suggests a blend of the literary with astronomy, which is often a key element in science fiction literature.
- Science & Technology — The book includes a clear reference to astronomy, often associated with the science & technology genre.
- Satire — Considering the author's well-known tendency for biting satire, it is likely that the book contains elements of this genre.
- Historical — Given the author's other works and the period in which he wrote, the book may contain elements of historical fiction.
Tags
Fiction · Literature · Astronomy · Science Fiction · Time Travel · Adventure · Humor · Mystery · Detective · Fantasy · Alternate History · Parallel Universe