Chicken Farm by Ross Rocklynne
A man with a singular focus on space exploration and asteroid juncture faults, Harvey, arrives at a hotel on Mars after a long journey. He meets Anna, a woman from Oregon, and expresses his desire for her companionship, leading to an unconventional dinner where he reveals his intentions to marry her. Despite his abruptness and lack of humor, Anna is intrigued by him. After a brief romance, Harvey departs for ten months to pursue a unique discovery: a "perp" planet, which he names Plymouth, suitable for raising chickens. Harvey's journey involves navigating bureaucratic challenges to claim ownership of Plymouth, which he believes can support life. He secures a loan based on his promise of future Plymouth Rock chickens, leveraging his astrological sign to build rapport with officials. His determination leads him to Venus, where he negotiates with a shipping company to ensure Plymouth's safety from an incoming spacecraft. Upon returning to Plymouth, Harvey establishes a thriving chicken farm, experimenting with gravity to enhance the growth and health of his Plymouth Rocks. He becomes increasingly invested in his project, believing that the unique conditions on the planet will yield superior chickens. However, when he returns to Mars to marry Anna, he discovers she has left him, doubting the existence of Plymouth. Undeterred, Harvey tracks Anna down in Oregon, marries her hastily, and brings her to Plymouth. Upon arrival, they are met with an overwhelming number of chickens that have multiplied unchecked. Harvey's plan to create a sustainable chicken farm faces immediate challenges as they confront the consequences of their actions. The story explores themes of ambition, love, and the unforeseen repercussions of human endeavors in the cosmos.
By Ross Rocklynne · First published 1948 · Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 7,096 words
First lines
_Harvey was a most unusual little man. A Cosmos-minded man with great singleness of purpose. He could discover asteroid-juncture faults with the greatest of ease, and "perp" planets, too. But could he find Anna from Oregon who doubted his greatest discovery of all? _
Just in from a long haul searching for asteroid juncture points, Harvey entered the lobby of the Hotel de Mars and went straight to the registration desk. The woman at the desk, who was blond, and blue-eyed, and inclining to chubbiness, looked at him, smiled. The smile was of such quality that Harvey's singed brown face set into a mold of utter attention.
What this Textopian page supports
Chicken Farm is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ross Rocklynne, dated 1948 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ross Rocklynne
- Date: 1948 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 7,096 words
- Structure: 1 section, 174 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Chicken Farm by Ross Rocklynne
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story is set in a futuristic space environment, featuring elements like asteroid juncture faults, planets, and space travel, which are central to the plot.
- Romance — The relationship between Harvey and Anna is a key focus, exploring themes of love, commitment, and emotional connection.
- Adventure — Harvey's journey to discover a new planet and establish a chicken farm involves exploration and challenges typical of adventure narratives.
- Humor — The protagonist's lack of humor and the absurdity of the situations create comedic elements throughout the narrative.
Tags
science fiction · farming · satire · humor · dystopia · technology · society · agriculture · animals · human nature · innovation · surrealism