Peritonitis

Publication(s)

• First publication
  • Tomorrow's Alternatives, ed. Rodger Elwood, 1973.
• Wolfe collection(s)
  • Endangered Species (1989)

Wolfe's comments from the Introduction to Endangered Species

There was no comment about this story in the introduction.

Summary

The epic saga of a colony of skin-disease germs. Since their host has just died, this is their last story.

Analysis

• On his Orpheus-like journey down into the stomach to rescue his beloved, the hero germ Deepdelver convinces the stomach germs that the proper way to feed is to eat from the host. This causes the peritonitis (stomach infection) which kills the host.

Unresolved Questions

• Was it A or was it B, or was it X or Z?
• Was it he or was it she, or was it you or me?
• Who dunnit?
• Did the Star Child really start WWIII at the end of 2001?

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