Paul's Treehouse

Publication(s)

• First publication
  • Orbit 5, 1969
• Wolfe collection(s)
  • Gene Wolfe’s Book of Days (1981)
  • Castle of Days (1992)
• Available online at http://web.archive.org/web/20080424104254/http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/wolfe3/wolfe31.html

Summary

A man's son has hidden himself in a treehouse while civil unrest rages around them.

Analysis

• This story could be seen as Wolfe's commentary on the civil unrest in America in the 1960s. There's a certain helplessness to it and a lack of understanding of what's going on by the adults for whom the events seem like chaos to them. Only Paul understands what's about to happen because he's younger and more in tune with what's going on, so he's able to prepare for it. Unfortunately, while Paul's preparations might be enough to save him, it appears they will be ineffective at saving his parents.

Unresolved Questions

• Was is the cause of the civil unrest?

< Of Relays and Roses | Gene Wolfe's Book of Days | St Brandon >
Return to Online Stories