000 02557cam a22003853u 4500
001 63986
003 UtSlPG
005 20260610134455.0
006 m
007 cr n
008 260607r2020||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d
040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aPS
100 1 _aWalton, Bryce,
_d1918-1988
245 1 4 _aThe Last Laugh
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2020
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
490 1 _aProduced from Planet Stories November 1951
500 _aRelease date is 2020-12-08
508 _aGreg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
520 _a"The Last Laugh" by Bryce Walton is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s, specifically published in 1951. The narrative explores the first visit of a Martian named Zeke to Earth, highlighting the clash of cultures and the often fine line between humor and ridicule. This storyline serves as a commentary on human nature and societal behaviors, particularly regarding how individuals respond to the unknown or the alien. In the story, Zeke arrives on Earth as a supposedly dignified ambassador of Martian culture, but his appearance and actions inadvertently elicit laughter from the human populace. The protagonist, Professor Johnson, struggles with the realization that Zeke, who lacks an understanding of humor, is being treated as a clown rather than a serious visitor. As Zeke attempts to navigate his new environment, he becomes increasingly distressed by the misunderstanding surrounding his character. The narrative reveals themes of isolation and the nature of laughter, ultimately leading to tragedy when Zeke's attempts to connect with humans lead to chaos and violence. Johnson’s efforts to shield Zeke from the truth about the ridicule he faces culminate in a deeper exploration of empathy, identity, and the innate complexities of human interactions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aScience fiction
653 _aShort stories
653 _aMartians -- Fiction
653 _aHuman-alien encounters -- Fiction
653 _aEarth (Planet) -- Fiction
700 1 _aVestal, Herman B.,
_d1916-2007
830 0 _aProduced from Planet Stories November 1951
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63986
999 _c104810
_d104810