The Man Outside by Evelyn E. Smith
The story revolves around a man who becomes obsessed with a woman he sees on the street, and begins to stalk her. He creates an idealized version of her in his mind, which contrasts with the reality of her life. The novel explores themes of obsession, loneliness, and the blurring of fantasy and reality.
By Evelyn E. Smith · First published 1951 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Coming-of-Age · 8,060 words
First lines
No one, least of all Martin, could dispute that a man's life should be guarded by his kin -- but by those who hadn't been born yet?
Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared and Ninian came to take care of him. Mothers had a way of disappearing around those parts and the kids were often better off without them. Martin was no exception. He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady. As for his father, Martin had never had one. He'd been a war baby, born of one of the tides of soldiers -- enemies and allies, both -- that had engulfed the country in successive waves and bought or taken the women. So there was no trouble that way.
What this Textopian page supports
The Man Outside is listed on Textopian as a novel by Evelyn E. Smith, dated 1951 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Evelyn E. Smith
- Date: 1951 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 8,060 words
- Structure: 1 section, 169 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Man Outside by Evelyn E. Smith
- 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 Man Outside?
- How does this novel by Evelyn E. Smith fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Red Window by Fergus Hume
- In A Fog by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Hideaway by F. L. Wallace
- Taken By Surprise by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Mans Best Friend by Evelyn E. Smith
- The Burg by Egerton Castle
Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot involves time travel and futuristic elements, exploring themes of societal change and the implications of altering history.
- Dystopian — The narrative presents a critique of societal structures and explores the consequences of idealism and exploitation in a future context.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist, Martin, undergoes significant personal growth and self-discovery as he navigates his unusual upbringing and the complexities of his identity.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is introspective and character-driven, focusing on themes of family, identity, and societal norms.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Detective · Investigation · Crime · Murder · Whodunit · Puzzle · Clues · Plot Twist · Surprise Ending