Picnic by Stephen Marlowe (1953)

Name: Picnic
Author: Stephen Marlowe

A family embarks on their routine weekend picnic to an asteroid, led by Burt, a frustrated father. He is weary of the weekly excursions, especially with his demanding wife, Marcia, and their two children, Johnny and Joan. During the landing, Burt's irritation peaks as he navigates the ship while managing the kids' antics. Upon arrival, they discover an old, crashed spaceship, which prompts Burt to investigate, fearing the worst for its occupants. As he explores the wreck, he finds signs of a previous crew but no bodies. Suddenly, a massive boulder rolls down a hill, destroying the ship and nearly crushing Burt. He realizes it was no accident; something pushed the rock. Marcia, panicked, urges Burt to find the children, who have detached their gravity equalizers and are bouncing around the asteroid's surface. Burt retrieves Johnny, who is stuck in a spongy ground that seems alive, pulsating and trying to pull him in. They make their way back to the ship, but the ground continues to shift ominously. As they approach the ship, rocks begin to fly at them, seemingly thrown by an unseen force. Burt deduces that the asteroid is sentient, playing a sadistic game with them. In a frantic race against time, Burt manages to get his family inside the ship just as the ground opens up beneath them, threatening to swallow the vessel. He pilots the ship away from the asteroid, which reveals itself as a living entity, having consumed the previous crew. The family escapes, and Burt vows never to return for another picnic, opting instead for safer outings. However, he knows that the allure of adventure may lead them back to the unknown.

By Stephen Marlowe · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Family Drama · 5,407 words

First lines

Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end. But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do? Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!

Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.

What this Textopian page supports

Picnic is listed on Textopian as a novel by Stephen Marlowe, dated 1953 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Stephen Marlowe
Date: 1953 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Family Drama, Thriller, Fantasy
Length: 5,407 words
Structure: 1 section, 155 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Picnic by Stephen Marlowe
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 Picnic?
How does this novel by Stephen Marlowe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — The story is set in space, involving a family traveling to an asteroid, which is a common theme in science fiction.
Adventure — The plot revolves around the family's unexpected and dangerous experiences on the asteroid, highlighting elements of adventure.
Family Drama — The interactions and conflicts within the family, particularly between Burt and his wife and children, emphasize familial relationships and dynamics.
Thriller — The suspenseful elements, including the mysterious forces on the asteroid and the danger they face, contribute to a thriller aspect.