The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber
The Last Letter is a science fiction novel written by Fritz Leiber and published in 1958. The story follows the adventures of a man named John who discovers that he has been living in an alternate reality created by his own mind. As he tries to escape from this false world, he must confront the truth about himself and his past.
By Fritz Leiber · First published 1958 · Genre: Science Fiction, Satire, Dystopian · 4,803 words
First lines
Who or what was the scoundrel that kept these couriers from the swift completion of their handsomely appointed rondos?
On Tenthmonth 1, 2457 A. D., at exactly 9 A. M. Planetary Federation Time -- but with a permissible error of a millionth of a second either way -- in the fifth sublevel of NewNew York Robot Postal Station 68, Black Sorter gulped down ten thousand pieces of first-class mail.
What this Textopian page supports
The Last Letter 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, Satire, Dystopian, Romance, Comedy
- Length: 4,803 words
- Structure: 1 section, 113 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber
- 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 Last Letter?
- How does this novel by Fritz Leiber fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Timeless Ones by Frank Belknap Long
- And We Sailed The Mighty Dark by Frank Belknap Long
- The Creature From Cleveland Depths by Fritz Leiber
- The Pale Ape by M. P. Shiel
- The Sky Trap by Frank Belknap Long
- Time In The Round by Fritz Leiber
Genres
- Science Fiction — The story is set in a futuristic world with advanced technology, including robots and machines that manage postal services, reflecting common themes of science fiction.
- Satire — The narrative uses humor and exaggeration to critique societal reliance on technology and the loss of personal communication, characteristic of satirical works.
- Dystopian — The depiction of a society where personal communication is forbidden and machines control daily life aligns with dystopian themes.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around a love letter and the romantic connection between two characters, incorporating elements of romance.
Tags
science fiction · fantasy · horror · short stories · literary fiction · psychological · suspense · mystery · supernatural · dark themes · existentialism · relationships