000 02504cam a22003853u 4500
001 66393
003 UtSlPG
005 20260610134531.0
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040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aPS
100 1 _aBixby, Jerome,
_d1923-1998
245 1 4 _aThe Battle of the Bells
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2021
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
490 1 _aProduced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy September 1954.
500 _aRelease date is 2021-09-27
508 _aGreg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
520 _a"The Battle of the Bells" by Jerome Bixby is a short story published in the mid-20th century, specifically in 1954. This humorous tale explores the themes of practical jokes and moral introspection against the backdrop of a small town in western Pennsylvania. It contrasts the innocence of small-town life with the complexities of human nature and the divine. The story centers on Charley Mason, a town resident known for his practical jokes aimed at unsuspecting travelers who stop at his outhouse. Charley’s antics take an unexpected turn when a fat woman from the city becomes his latest victim, launching into a tirade about morality and sin, which catches the attention of heavenly and hellish beings. A young man representing good and a dark figure representing evil engage in a cosmic struggle initiated by Charley's prank, debating the nature of good and evil and the impact of such seemingly innocent jokes on the human soul. Ultimately, the story culminates in a humorous and unexpected resolution that emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the inner battle against temptation, leaving readers to ponder the fine line between humor and insensitivity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aShort stories
653 _aPractical jokes -- Fiction
653 _aPennsylvania -- Fiction
653 _aDevil -- Fiction
653 _aAngels -- Fiction
700 1 _aTerry, W. E.,
_d1921-1992
830 0 _aProduced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy September 1954.
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66393
999 _c107215
_d107215