Collector's Item by Robert F. Young

Name: Collector's Item
Author: Robert F. Young

The narrative follows a Galactic Historian tasked with condensing the histories of numerous civilizations into a single manuscript. This monumental task weighs heavily on him, exacerbated by personal issues, including concerns about his many wives who are away on a cruise. As he meticulously reviews his work, a sudden breeze disrupts his concentration, causing a critical page of the manuscript to be lost. The breeze, characterized as malicious, carries the page to a xixxix tree, home to squixes—small creatures known for their collecting habits. The squixes, upon discovering the page, are thrilled and immediately begin to tear it into strips to create a hammock. Unbeknownst to them, they are weaving together significant historical events and dates from Earth’s history. As they craft their hammock, the squixes experience restless sleep filled with vivid dreams, influenced by the weighty history they are unknowingly resting upon. The story explores themes of memory, the significance of history, and the unintended consequences of seemingly trivial actions. The Galactic Historian's oversight and the squixes' innocent actions intertwine, leading to a humorous yet poignant commentary on the nature of history and its preservation. The work ultimately reflects on the fragility of knowledge and the impact of small events on the grand tapestry of time.

By Robert F. Young · First published 1970 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Humor · 1,459 words

First lines

Very trivial things can go into the weaving of a nest. The human race, for instance --

The condensation of the histories of ten thousand races into a text concise enough to fit into a single volume had been a task of unprecedented proportions. There had been times when the Galactic Historian had doubted whether even his renowned abilities were up to the assignment that the Galactic Board of Education had so lightly tossed his way, times when he had thrown up his hands -- all five of them -- in despair. But at last the completed manuscript lay before him on his desk with nothing but the final reading remaining between it and publication.

What this Textopian page supports

Collector's Item is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert F. Young, dated 1970 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Robert F. Young
Date: 1970 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Satire, Adventure
Length: 1,459 words
Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — The story is set in a futuristic, galactic context with elements of advanced technology and alien species.
Fantasy — The presence of fantastical creatures like squixes and the whimsical nature of the plot contribute to a fantasy atmosphere.
Humor — The narrative employs a light-hearted tone and absurd situations, particularly with the character of the Galactic Historian and the squixes.
Satire — The story critiques the nature of historical documentation and the absurdity of academic pressures, reflecting on human behavior.