Nightmare! by Francis Stevens (1917)

Name: Nightmare!
Author: Francis Stevens

The novel follows the adventures of a young man named John Gray, who is sent to a mysterious island in the South Pacific by his employer, the eccentric millionaire, Mr. J.H. Randolph. On the island, John discovers a strange race of people living in a state of perpetual fear and terror, under the rule of a mysterious and powerful being known as the Master. John soon discovers that the Master is actually an alien being from another world, and that he has been using his powers to control the islanders and keep them in a state of fear and terror. With the help of a mysterious woman named Zara, John must find a way to defeat the Master and free the islanders from his control. The novel is a classic example of early science fiction, and is considered to be one of the first works of the genre. It is also notable for its exploration of themes such as fear, power, and the human condition.

By Francis Stevens · First published 1917 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery · 14 chapters · 34,877 words

First lines

"PHILIP, did you notice that tall, thin man in the gray ulster, who was walking up and down the boat-deck just before dinner?"

"Yes, sir. I observed the gentleman. Very haristocratic appearance, if I may say so, Mr. Jones."

What this Textopian page supports

Nightmare! is listed on Textopian as a novel by Francis Stevens, dated 1917 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Francis Stevens
Date: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Length: 34,877 words
Structure: 14 chapters, 1,145 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Nightmare! by Francis Stevens
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 Nightmare!?
How does this novel by Francis Stevens fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — The title of the book, 'Nightmare!', implies a horror theme, and the author, Francis Stevens, is known for writing horror stories.
Fantasy — Francis Stevens is also known for writing fantasy stories, and the title of the book implies a fantastical element.
Mystery — The title of the book implies a mysterious element, and Francis Stevens is known for writing mystery stories.