X Marks the Pedwalk by Fritz Leiber
X Marks the Pedwalk is a science fiction novel written by Fritz Leiber and published in 1965. The story follows the adventures of a man named Gummitch, who has been transformed into a giant spider-like creature after an experiment gone wrong. He must navigate through a dangerous world filled with mutants and other strange creatures to find his way back home. Along the way, he meets various characters who help him on his journey, including a beautiful woman named Lydia and a wise old man named Professor Muddle. The novel explores themes of identity, transformation, and the nature of reality.
By Fritz Leiber · First published 1965 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Satire · 1,842 words
First lines
This is how it all began -- the terrible civil strife that devastates our world! Based in material in Ch. 7 -- "First Clashes of the Wheeled and Footed Sects" -- of Vol. 3 of Burger's monumental _History of Traffic_, published by the Foundation for Twenty-Second Century Studies.
The raggedy little old lady with the big shopping bag was in the exact center of the crosswalk when she became aware of the big black car bearing down on her.
What this Textopian page supports
X Marks the Pedwalk is listed on Textopian as a short story by Fritz Leiber, dated 1965 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Fritz Leiber
- Date: 1965 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Satire, Speculative Fiction, Dark Comedy
- Length: 1,842 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for X Marks the Pedwalk 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering X Marks the Pedwalk?
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story is set in a dystopian future with advanced technology and societal changes, typical of science fiction.
- Dystopian — The narrative depicts a society in decline, with civil strife and oppressive governmental control, characteristic of dystopian fiction.
- Satire — The exaggerated conflict between pedestrians and motorists serves as a satirical commentary on societal divisions and human behavior.
- Speculative Fiction — The work explores hypothetical societal developments and their consequences, fitting the speculative fiction genre.
Tags
fantasy · science fiction · urban fantasy · magic · adventure · mystery · supernatural · parallel worlds · time travel · sorcery · mythology · dark humor