02606cam a22003733u 4500 60698 UtSlPG 20260610134411.0 m cr n 260607r2019||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Fontenay, Charles L., 1917-2007 Bargain Basement Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2019 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1959 Release date is 2019-11-16 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Bargain Basement" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction novella written during the late 1950s. The story revolves around the peculiar happenings at a basement store that offers inexplicably low prices on futuristic items, hinting at the existence of a time anomaly. The narrative explores themes of time travel, love, and unintended consequences resulting from choices made through the shop's unique bargains. The storyline follows Jack Hanshaw and his roommate Ken Adaman as they visit a strange basement shop filled with bizarre merchandise sold at a fraction of its potential value. While trying to resolve an issue with a malfunctioning television set he purchased, Jack becomes embroiled in a series of events that reveal the shop's connection to the future. As Ken acquires an astonishingly cheap, futuristic car, Jack's jealousy leads him to use a drug from the future to win over the affections of Lorene, the woman they both desire. The culmination of their actions brings forth a paradox in which their choices alter the very fabric of reality—resulting in the dissolution of the store and its products, despite Jack retaining his marriage to Lorene. Consequently, the story reflects on how love, ambition, and the delicate nature of time can intertwine in surprising and profound ways. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction Time travel -- Fiction Stores, Retail -- Fiction Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1959 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60698 101524 101524