The Pluto Lamp by Charles A. Stearns
The Pluto Lamp by Charles A. Stearns: A young man named John inherits a mysterious lamp from his recently deceased grandfather. When he turns it on, a genie appears and grants him three wishes. However, the lamp's power is not limited to granting wishes, as it also has the ability to manipulate time and space. John must learn to use the lamp responsibly and navigate its complexities in order to achieve his goals.
By Charles A. Stearns · First published 1906 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery · 3,652 words
First lines
_It was the most outrageous kind of irony that fate, and the Commission of Galactic Astrography, should select such a prime misfit as Knucklebone Smith to light the lamp of Pluto._
This is really two stories. The first is solar history; the second, the mostly true legend of a misfit called Knucklebone Smith.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pluto Lamp is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles A. Stearns, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles A. Stearns
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 3,652 words
- Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pluto Lamp by Charles A. Stearns
- 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 The Pluto Lamp?
- How does this short story by Charles A. Stearns fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man From Time by Frank Belknap Long
- The Cosmic Jackpot by George O. Smith
- Voyage To Eternity by Stephen Marlowe
- The World Mover by George O. Smith
- The Mobius Trail by George O. Smith
- Tricky Tonnage by Malcolm Jameson
Genres
- Science Fiction — The title 'The Pluto Lamp' and the author's reputation suggest a plot that is likely to include space travel or futuristic elements, typically associated with the science fiction genre.
- Adventure — Considering journey to Pluto can be considered an adventure in itself, this genre represents a possibility.
- Mystery — The title hints at an enigmatic object which might entail a plot involving discovery or innovative elements, elements usually found in the mystery genre.
Tags
science fiction · fantasy · adventure · mystery · space exploration · supernatural · time travel · technology · cosmic · imagination · parallel universes · alien encounters