"A Cabin on the Coast" is a science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 / fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 short story

Short story

A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...

 by Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the...

, initially publishe in the February 1984 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...

 and collected in Endangered Species (1989) and The Best Of Gene Wolfe (2009). It was nominated for the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Short Story

Nebula Award for Best Short Story

Winners of the '“Nebula Award for Best Short Story”'. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-Winners and nominees:-External links:* *...

as well as the 1985 Locus award.

Plot summary

The story follows Timothy Ryan Neal, the son of a famous politician. When he takes his girlfriend to his father’s beach house (or cabin) he wakes up one morning to find her missing. Though the police suggest that she drowned in the ocean, Timothy is convinced that she was kidnapped by the mysterious ship he sees now and again in the sea. Concerned not only about her life, but also about his father’s reputation, he journeys out to try and make a deal with the ship.

External links

• A Cabin on the Coast at BestScienceFictionStories.com - short story reviews and resources.