Monday, June 15, 2020

The Parasite

The Parasite is a 1953 short story by Arthur C. Clarke, a brilliant and influential man. You can read the story online here. You can have it read to you at the bottom of the post. It begins,
"There is nothing you can do," said Connolly, nothing at all. Why did you have to follow me?" He was standing with his back to Pearson, staring out across the calm, blue waters that led to Italy. On the left, behind the anchored fishing fleet, the sun was setting in Mediterranean splendor, incarnadining land and sky. But neither man was even remotely aware of the beauty all around us.

Pearson rose to his feet and came forward out of the cafe's shadowed porch, into the slanting sunlight. He joined Connolly by the cliff wall but was careful not to come too close to him. Even in normal times Connolly disliked being touched... "

14 comments:

  1. I've actually read this one. I'm a huge Arthur Clarke fan. It was a great read, too.

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    1. He was a treasure, wasn't he? Great stories!

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  2. ...there's one parasite in Washington that I'd love to get rid of.

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  3. This is one i have never read i shall keep it in mind I like him and his way of thinking. Fascinating .

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    1. I read any of his stories I come across.

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  4. Since I got bit by a tick a couple of weeks ago and didn't get the whole tick out, I'll pass this one

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  5. This one sounds vaguely familiar. From someplace or somewhere. Not quite sure why, but I guess I better give it a read to see if it actually is familiar.

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    1. He was a popular author. It's very possible you came across this before.

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  6. Have bookmarked it for later, sounds good! Valerie

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  7. I thought of the South Korean film that just won best picture at the Academy Awards. Recently rented it--a weird one! I will bookmark this one to watch later. :)

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    1. Yes. No connection. I haven't seen it yet...

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