02731cam a22003853u 4500 66288 UtSlPG 20260610134529.0 m cr n 260607r2021||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Nourse, Alan Edward, 1928-1992 The Fifty-Fourth of July The 54th of July Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2021 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy March 1954 Release date is 2021-09-13 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Fifty-Fourth of July" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The book is centered around a post-apocalyptic scenario where society has collapsed due to an economic disaster linked to failed rocket launches. The main theme explores the consequences of humanity's relentless pursuit of technological advancement, symbolized by the titular Rocket that becomes a focal point for the characters' struggles and decisions in a chaotic world. The story follows Matt Matthews, who is part of a group encamped near a military installation guarding a rocket. Tensions arise as they are on the brink of launching an assault on the fortification, led by Colonel Gorham, who refuses to surrender the rocket despite the dire circumstances outside. An outsider named Loevy arrives, claiming he can negotiate a truce, which leads to unearthing grim truths about the government and the state of the world beyond. Throughout the novel, Matt grapples with his hatred for the rockets and what they represent, especially after learning of personal tragedies that have befallen his family. As desperation mounts, Matt ultimately decides to blow up the rocket, hoping to destroy the symbol of the old world's ambitions, while also realizing the importance of preserving the blueprints for a future that might allow humanity to explore the stars once again, without the same catastrophic consequences. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Sieges -- Fiction Space ships -- Fiction Apocalyptic fiction Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy March 1954 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66288 107110 107110