A Town is Drowning by C.M. Kornbluth

Name: A Town is Drowning
Author: C.M. Kornbluth

A Town Is Drowning by C.M. Kornbluth: In this novella, a small town in the Midwest is facing an existential crisis as it slowly disappears underwater due to the construction of a nearby dam. The story follows the lives of the town's residents as they struggle to come to terms with their fate and find ways to cope with the impending disaster. The novella explores themes of loss, grief, and the fragility of human existence in the face of natural forces beyond our control. Through the eyes of its characters, Kornbluth reveals the complex emotional landscape of a community facing extinction, and the ways in which people can find meaning and purpose even in the most difficult of circumstances.

By C.M. Kornbluth · First published 1950 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Thriller · 17 chapters · 59,139 words

First lines

The man in the filling station was clearly of two minds about it, but finally he buttoned up his raincoat and pulled on his hat and came out to Mickey Groff's car. "Sorry to make you come out in the rain like this," Groff said. "Fill it up, will you?"

He rolled up the window and picked out the least soaked wad of Kleenex to wipe the mist off the inside of the windshield. The car radio stopped playing show tunes and began to talk about freezer food plans. Groff snapped it off and leaned back to watch the turning dials on the gas pump. By the time the man had put back the cap and sloshed around to the window Groff had the exact change ready in his hand. "How far is it to Hebertown?"

What this Textopian page supports

A Town is Drowning is listed on Textopian as a novel by C.M. Kornbluth, dated 1950 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: C.M. Kornbluth
Date: 1950 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Thriller, Disaster, Mystery
Length: 59,139 words
Structure: 17 chapters, 1,189 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Town is Drowning by C.M. Kornbluth
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 Town is Drowning?
How does this novel by C.M. Kornbluth fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — C.M. Kornbluth is renowned for his science fiction work which comprises much of his bibliography, suggesting that this book likely also falls within this genre.
Dystopian — The title suggests a dire situation for a town that can be associated with dystopian themes.
Thriller — The dramatic situation implied by the title suggests elements of suspense and danger, which are common in thrillers.
Disaster — The concept of a town drowning can be seen as a disaster, indicating that the book may explore the events leading up to, during, and after a calamitous event.