The Headless Man

Publication(s)

  • First publication
    • Universe 2, ed. Terry Carr, 1972
  • Wolfe collection(s)

Wolfe's comments from the Introduction to Endangered Species

Because you have sometimes pitied others, I have told you "Our Neighbor by David Copperfield," and because others have sometimes pitied you, "The Headless Man."

Summary

The very strange love story of a man with no head (his face is on his chest and belly).

Analysis

  • Sources of quotes
  • Meanings of names
  • References to other works
  • Theories about what happens under the surface, what the narrator isn't telling us, who the narrator is and when and why s/he is telling the story, what the whole thing "means," etc.
    If there are multiple or competing theories, each one should be given a name with a three-bang (!!!) header; if the page begins to get out-of-hand from the size of these, as could happen in a few cases, they should be shuffled off to their own page(s).
  • Etc.

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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