The Night of the Long Knives
The Night of the Long Knives is a science fiction novel written by Fritz Leiber and published in 1960. The story follows a group of humans who have been captured by an alien race known as the "Ghoul" and are being held captive on their planet. The Ghoul are a highly advanced species that have mastered the art of genetic engineering, and they use this technology to create hybrid creatures with human and animal DNA. As the humans struggle to survive in this hostile environment, they must also contend with the Ghoul's plans for them, which involve using their bodies as raw material for further experiments. The novel explores themes of identity, power, and the nature of consciousness, and is considered a classic of the science fiction genre.
By Fritz Leiber · First published 1940 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Thriller · 7 chapters · 38,820 words
First lines
_Any man who saw you, or even heard your footsteps must be ambushed, stalked and killed, whether needed for food or not. Otherwise, so long as his strength held out, he would be on your trail._ -- The Twenty-Fifth Hour, _by Herbert Best_
I was one hundred miles from Nowhere -- and I mean that literally -- when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Night of the Long Knives is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fritz Leiber, dated 1940 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: 1940 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Thriller, Adventure, Psychological
- Length: 38,820 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 632 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Night of the Long Knives by Fritz Leiber
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Watchers by Roger Dee Aycock
- Lake Of Fire by Frank Belknap Long
- Bullet With His Name by Fritz Leiber
- The Pale Ape by M. P. Shiel
- Carnacki The Ghost Finder by William Hope Hodgson
- Aylmer Vance And The Vampire by Alice Askew
Genres
- Science Fiction — The book is set in a post-apocalyptic future, exploring speculative technology and societal structures.
- Dystopian — The narrative presents a bleak and oppressive future society, highlighting themes of survival and moral decay.
- Thriller — The plot is driven by suspense and tension, with characters facing constant danger and uncertainty.
- Adventure — The story involves a journey through a hostile environment, with characters encountering various challenges and adversaries.
Tags
horror · fantasy · dark fantasy · supernatural · urban fantasy · mystery · suspense · thriller · occult · vampires · gothic · adventure