Bread Overhead by Fritz Leiber
The novel follows the adventures of a group of humans and aliens who are stranded on a strange planet. The planet is inhabited by a race of intelligent, telepathic aliens called the Kzinti, who are at war with the humans. The humans must find a way to survive in this hostile environment, while also trying to find a way to escape the planet. Along the way, they must contend with the Kzinti, as well as the planet's strange and dangerous wildlife. The novel is set in the same universe as Leiber's other works, such as The Big Time and The Wanderer. It is a classic example of Leiber's blend of science fiction and fantasy, and is considered one of his best works.
By Fritz Leiber · First published 1958 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 5,939 words
First lines
As a blisteringly hot but guaranteed weather-controlled future summer day dawned on the Mississippi Valley, the walking mills of Puffy Products ("Spike to Loaf in One Operation!") began to tread delicately on their centipede legs across the wheat fields of Kansas.
The walking mills resembled fat metal serpents, rather larger than those Chinese paper dragons animated by files of men in procession. Sensory robot devices in their noses informed them that the waiting wheat had reached ripe perfection.
What this Textopian page supports
Bread Overhead is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fritz Leiber, dated 1958 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Fritz Leiber
- Date: 1958 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Dystopian, Mystery
- Length: 5,939 words
- Structure: 1 section, 116 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bread Overhead by Fritz Leiber
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Science Fiction — Bread Overhead is a science fiction novel by Fritz Leiber, which follows the story of a group of people living in a post-apocalyptic world.
- Fantasy — The novel contains elements of fantasy, such as the use of magic and supernatural creatures.
- Adventure — The novel follows the characters on a journey of discovery and adventure as they explore the post-apocalyptic world.
- Dystopian — The novel is set in a dystopian world, where the characters must struggle to survive in a hostile environment.
Tags
Business · Fiction · Science Fiction · Short stories · air · back · bread · flight · gas · great · gryce · helium