Death Wish by Robert Sheckley (1956)
In Robert Sheckley's novel, Death Wish, a man named John D. MacDonald is a successful businessman who has it all—a beautiful wife, a luxurious home, and a thriving career. But when he discovers that he has a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands and make a deal with Death. He offers to trade his life for a chance to live forever. Death agrees, and John embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning about the power of life and death, and the consequences of his choices. Along the way, he meets a mysterious woman who helps him understand the true meaning of life and death. In the end, John must decide whether to accept his fate or take a chance on immortality.
By Robert Sheckley · First published 1956 · Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery · 4,917 words
First lines
The space freighter "Queen Dierdre" was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble. That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer. Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment -- the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.
What this Textopian page supports
Death Wish is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert Sheckley, dated 1956 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Robert Sheckley
- Date: 1956 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy
- Length: 4,917 words
- Structure: 1 section, 166 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Death Wish by Robert Sheckley
- 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 Death Wish?
- How does this novel by Robert Sheckley 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 book is set in a dystopian future and features a protagonist with a death wish, which are both common themes in science fiction.
- Thriller — The book features a protagonist with a death wish and a suspenseful plot, which are both common elements of thrillers.
- Mystery — The book features a protagonist with a death wish and a suspenseful plot, which are both common elements of mysteries.
- Fantasy — The book features a dystopian future and a protagonist with a death wish, which are both common elements of fantasy.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · asked · captain · computer · could · course · dierdre · engineer · engines · fuel · get