Our Town by Jerome Bixby (1940)
The play revolves around the lives of three families living in a small American town on the eve of World War I. It explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition through a non-linear narrative that jumps back and forth between past, present, and future. The story centers around Emily Webb, a young woman who dies shortly after her 25th birthday, and her journey to understand the nature of life and death.
By Jerome Bixby · First published 1940 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Drama · 10,130 words
First lines
_The jets got all the young ones in Smoky Creek. Only the old folks were left -- with their memories. And the jets -- friendly or hostile -- would never get them._
What this Textopian page supports
Our Town is listed on Textopian as a play by Jerome Bixby, dated 1940 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Jerome Bixby
- Date: 1940 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Drama, Literary Fiction, War Fiction
- Length: 10,130 words
- Structure: 1 section, 167 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Our Town by Jerome Bixby
- 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 Our Town?
- How does this play by Jerome Bixby fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Anchorite by Randall Garrett
- Conditionally Human by Walter M. Miller
- Beyond The Door by Philip K. Dick
- Referent by Ray Bradbury
- Mr Spaceship by Philip K. Dick
- The Dream by H. G. Wells
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative explores the consequences of advanced technology and warfare, particularly the impact of bombings on a small town and its inhabitants.
- Dystopian — The story presents a bleak vision of a post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of society struggle to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst destruction.
- Drama — The focus on character interactions, emotional struggles, and the human condition in the face of tragedy highlights the dramatic elements of the narrative.
- Literary Fiction — The work employs rich language and deep thematic exploration, emphasizing the philosophical reflections of aging and loss.
Tags
Science Fiction · Anthology · Short Story Collection · Space Exploration · Alien Invasion · Humanity's Future · Social Commentary · Speculative Fiction · Dystopian · Utopian · Philosophical · Existential