Star Bright by Bryce Walton (1985)
In a dystopian future, a worker named Andy Brooks grapples with his discontent in a society where artificial dreams are provided through Sensory Shows. Disillusioned with his mundane life and his unattractive wife, he longs for a real connection with Glora Delar, a famous actress from the moon. After a traumatic accident that leads to his diagnosis of schizophrenia, Andy decides to escape his oppressive reality and pursue Glora in person, defying the strict laws that prohibit such actions. In a desperate act, he murders his wife to free himself from her constraints and sneaks aboard a moon rocket. Upon arrival in Studio City, he is awed by the glamorous world of the stars but soon realizes that the actors are mere puppets, devoid of genuine emotion or recognition. His encounter with Glora reveals the harsh truth: she is not the idealized figure of his dreams but a lifeless automaton, a product of the very system he sought to escape. As chaos ensues, Andy confronts the futility of his quest for authentic love and dreams, ultimately succumbing to despair. The story explores themes of reality versus illusion, the nature of desire, and the consequences of a society that prioritizes manufactured happiness over genuine human connection.
By Bryce Walton · First published 1985 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery · 6,880 words
First lines
Artificial dreams weren't enough for Andy Brooks. He was determined to find them in reality!
His wife's face was ugly; it was shallow and flat like a broken plate. From the balcony of their apartment in the Communal Worker's Center, Brooks turned his gaze and his hate away from her face. He looked at the moon. The disc of dreams was being blotted out by the sea; there were night shadows on the sea, fringed with the white curving foam of breaking tide.
What this Textopian page supports
Star Bright is listed on Textopian as a novel by Bryce Walton, dated 1985 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Bryce Walton
- Date: 1985 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 6,880 words
- Structure: 1 section, 128 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Star Bright by Bryce Walton
- 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 Star Bright?
- How does this novel by Bryce Walton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- To Each His Star by Bryce Walton
- The Gift Bearer by Charles L. Fontenay
- Redemption Cairn by Stanley G. Weinbaum
- The Long Way by George O. Smith
- Beyond Pandora by Robert J. Martin
- Alien by George O. Smith
Genres
- Science Fiction — The book 'Star Bright' by Bryce Walton centres around future human societies, space exploration, and advanced technology, which are common elements generally found in Science Fiction genre.
- Adventure — The story involves a lot of action, physical challenges and risk-taking scenarios typically found in Adventure genre.
- Mystery — There are elements of the unknown, puzzles to solve, and secrets to uncover, which align with the Mystery genre.
Tags
science fiction · space exploration · adventure · alien encounters · humanity · technology · future · survival · mystery · interstellar · conflict · discovery