The Draw by Jerome Bixby (1952)
A young boy's fascination with a mysterious and ancient artifact leads to a series of supernatural events that challenge his perception of reality. The story explores themes of obsession, the power of imagination, and the blurring of lines between fantasy and reality.
By Jerome Bixby · First published 1952 · Genre: Western, Science Fiction, Drama · 9,125 words
First lines
_Stories of the old West were filled with bad men who lived by the speed of their gun hand. Well, meet Buck Tarrant, who could outdraw them all. His secret: he didn't even have to reach for his weapon._
Joe Doolin's my name. Cowhand -- work for old Farrel over at Lazy F beyond the Pass. Never had much of anything exciting happen to me -- just punched cows and lit up on payday -- until the day I happened to ride through the Pass on my way to town and saw young Buck Tarrant's draw.
What this Textopian page supports
The Draw is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jerome Bixby, dated 1952 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jerome Bixby
- Date: 1952 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Western, Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Psychological
- Length: 9,125 words
- Structure: 1 section, 279 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Draw 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 The Draw?
- How does this novel by Jerome Bixby fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Western first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Western — The story is set in the Old West and revolves around gunfighting, a central theme of Western literature.
- Science Fiction — The protagonist exhibits telekinetic abilities, which introduces a speculative element that is characteristic of science fiction.
- Drama — The narrative explores themes of power, fear, and personal growth, focusing on character development and emotional conflict.
- Adventure — The plot involves confrontations and the journey of the protagonist, which are typical elements of adventure stories.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short Story · Anthology · Space Exploration · Alien Encounter · Human Condition · Existentialism · Philosophy · Psychological Thriller · Mind Games · Reality Distortion · Paranoia