02402cam a22003733u 4500 67341 UtSlPG 20260610134544.0 m cr n 260607r20221955utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Beaumont, Charles, 1929-1967 Traumerei Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2022 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Infinity Science Fiction, February 1956 Release date is 2022-02-06 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Traumerei" by Charles Beaumont is a short story published in the mid-20th century, specifically in the early 1950s, featured in the magazine "Infinity Science Fiction." The narrative explores themes of existential dread and the nature of reality, questioning the line between dreams and wakefulness. The story centers around Henry Ritchie, a criminal lawyer, and his friend Max Kaplan as they discuss the impending execution of a convicted murderer. As they anticipate the midnight hour, they delve into a bizarre philosophical conversation about the nature of dreams and existence. The murderer claims that his execution will result in the end of the world, suggesting that everyone else exists only within his dream. This provocative idea unsettles both men as they grapple with its implication, leading to a chilling climax where the reader is left questioning the reality of their circumstances and the nature of fear. The narrative culminates in a surreal moment that ties the concepts of dreaming and waking into a haunting conclusion, encapsulating Beaumont's talent for blending the macabre with deeper philosophical inquiry. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Originally published: United States: Royal Publications, Inc, 1955 Science fiction Short stories Executions and executioners -- Fiction Dreams -- Fiction Remington Produced from Infinity Science Fiction, February 1956 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67341 108163 108163