02266cam a22003613u 4500 50844 UtSlPG 20260610134153.0 m cr n 260607r2016||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005 Proof of the Pudding Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2016 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1952 Release date is 2016-01-04 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Proof of the Pudding" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative explores themes of creation and reality through the eyes of a man who believes he is the last human on Earth after a devastating war has obliterated life on the planet. With the newfound ability to create anything he imagines, he grapples with existential questions about existence and companionship. The story follows a nameless male protagonist who, while contemplating his existence and reflecting on humanity's destructive past, unexpectedly encounters a woman named Joan in a cave. As they form a bond, he uses his creative powers to make a lavish city and offers her a new life free from the war's memories. However, his skepticism about her reality leads to philosophical debates between them about creation and existence. Ultimately, Joan helps him confront his insecurities and offers a glimpse of hope and connection amidst the desolation, with their relationship symbolizing a new beginning in a world marked by destruction. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Apocalyptic fiction Emshwiller, Ed, 1925-1990 Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1952 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50844 91682 91682