The Hand by Jerry Sohl (1954)
In a small town, a mysterious hand appears and begins to perform tasks, eventually becoming an integral part of the community's daily life. The townspeople grow accustomed to its presence and rely on it for various needs. However, as time passes, questions arise about the hand's origins and motivations.
By Jerry Sohl · First published 1954 · Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Drama · 4,915 words
First lines
Alice knew that Dobie was a good dog, even if he did have an alarming habit of hunting down rabbits and gophers. But one day he brought her --
Alice McNearby was washing breakfast dishes and looking out the kitchen window at the November sky when she first spied Dobie. The way he was sneaking up to the house she knew he had killed something.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hand is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jerry Sohl, dated 1954 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jerry Sohl
- Date: 1954 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Length: 4,915 words
- Structure: 1 section, 116 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hand by Jerry Sohl
- 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 Hand?
- How does this novel by Jerry Sohl fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Desire No More by Algis Budrys
- Pictures Dont Lie by Katherine Maclean
- Lost In The Future by John Victor Peterson
Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot involves an alien encounter and themes of extraterrestrial life, making it a clear fit for the science fiction genre.
- Horror — The discovery of a severed human hand and the tension surrounding it create a horror atmosphere, emphasizing fear and the grotesque.
- Drama — The interpersonal conflict between Alice and Mac, along with the emotional stakes surrounding their relationship, aligns with dramatic themes.
- Mystery — The mystery of the severed hand and the alien's need for it drives the narrative, creating suspense and intrigue.
Tags
Science Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Paranoid · Isolation · Alienation · Identity Crisis · Existentialism · Philosophical · Mind Games