Break a Leg by Jim Harmon (1957)
The story revolves around a young man who suffers from a rare condition that causes him to experience intense physical pain whenever he lies. He becomes involved with a woman who helps him cope with his condition and they develop a complex relationship. The narrative explores themes of identity, intimacy, and the human body's fragility.
By Jim Harmon · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Humor, Adventure · 9,196 words
First lines
The man worth while couldn't be allowed to smile. if he ever laughed at himself, the entire ship and crew were as good as dead!
If there is anything I am afraid of, and there probably is, it is having a rookie Accident Prone, half-starved from the unemployment lines, aboard my spaceship. They are always so anxious to please. They remember what it is like to live in a rathole behind an apartment house furnace eating day-old bread and wilted vegetables, which doesn't compare favorably to the Admiralty-style staterooms and steak and caviar they draw down in the Exploration Service.
What this Textopian page supports
Break a Leg is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jim Harmon, dated 1957 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jim Harmon
- Date: 1957 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Adventure, Satire, Fantasy
- Length: 9,196 words
- Structure: 1 section, 238 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Break a Leg by Jim Harmon
- 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 Break a Leg?
- How does this novel by Jim Harmon fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative explores futuristic themes, including space travel, alien encounters, and the concept of accident-prone individuals in a sci-fi setting.
- Humor — The story employs humor through the protagonist's clumsiness and the absurdity of his situation, creating comedic moments amidst the sci-fi elements.
- Adventure — The plot involves exploration and the challenges faced by the crew on an alien planet, highlighting themes of survival and discovery.
- Satire — The work critiques societal norms and the absurdities of human behavior, particularly through the lens of the accident-prone character.
Tags
Idiomatic Expression · Theater · Superstition · Good Luck · Wish · Folklore · Cultural Phenomenon · Language · Etymology · History · Custom · Tradition