Finis (short story)
Encyclopedia
"Finis" is a short story written by American science fiction
author Frank L. Pollack
(sometimes spelled Frank Lillie Pollock), and published in The Argosy
magazine, June 1906. It has been reprinted in magazines, translated, and anthologized numerous times, occasionally under the title "The Last Dawn". The story text is now out of copyright.
Finis is the story of a new star that is discovered which turns out to be a new, hotter sun. It is a short, but hard hitting story which shows a man and woman, who stay up the night to watch the expected new star arise. Though published in 1906, it is set in the future of the mid 20th century.
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...
author Frank L. Pollack
Frank L. Pollack
Frank Lillie Pollack, was an early American science fiction writer and author of the short story "Finis", published in the June 1906 issue of The Argosy magazine, anthologized several times, and available online. In 1930, he was living in Shedden, Ontario, Canada .Briefly, "Finis" is the story of...
(sometimes spelled Frank Lillie Pollock), and published in The Argosy
Argosy (magazine)
Argosy was an American pulp magazine, published by Frank Munsey. It is generally considered to be the first American pulp magazine. The magazine began as a general information periodical entitled The Golden Argosy, targeted at the boys adventure market.-Launch of Argosy:In late September 1882,...
magazine, June 1906. It has been reprinted in magazines, translated, and anthologized numerous times, occasionally under the title "The Last Dawn". The story text is now out of copyright.
Finis is the story of a new star that is discovered which turns out to be a new, hotter sun. It is a short, but hard hitting story which shows a man and woman, who stay up the night to watch the expected new star arise. Though published in 1906, it is set in the future of the mid 20th century.
Synopsis
The story starts with two men and two women at an observatory in New York City. They are awaiting the appearance of a new star that has been predicted by top scientist that will rival the moon in intensity. The entire world is excited about this new heavenly body and people stay up the night waiting. It is February and very cold but around midnight the temperature starts to climb and the snow melts. Then a very bright moon rises, which is brighter than normal because it is reflecting the new star's light. Then the sky turns ablaze with color as the new sun is seen and the blast of heat is almost immediate. One of the women scream as a nearby flag catches fire. The city starts to go up in smoke and those directly in the heat quickly die. One of the men in the observatory flees with his wife and it is assumed that they die outside. The remaining man and woman quickly try to get to the cellar as the building they are in starts to collapse. The extreme heat has evaporated the sea water which now comes back as a torrential rain. The city starts to flood and a thick cloud of steam fills the air. The couple makes it down to the cellar and the heat is almost unbearable as they just lay on the floor going in and out of consciousness. Finally the rain stops and the heat starts to go up again but then the new sun goes down and darkness brings some coolness to them. They talk about their future and realize that when the new sun comes up the next morning, the heat will kill them and everyone left. They realize that they will be dead soon and have a last kiss. The sun then comes up and the world is burnt to a crisp.Magazine Publication
- The ArgosyArgosy (magazine)Argosy was an American pulp magazine, published by Frank Munsey. It is generally considered to be the first American pulp magazine. The magazine began as a general information periodical entitled The Golden Argosy, targeted at the boys adventure market.-Launch of Argosy:In late September 1882,...
magazine, June 1906. - Famous Fantastic Mysteries magazine, May–June 1940, vol. 2, no. 2.
- Fantastic Novels Magazine, Mar 1948, vol. 2, no. 2.
- Magazine of Horror and Strange Stories, August 1963, vol. 1, no. 1, as "The Last Dawn"
- S-Fマガジン (S-F Magazine) Oct. 1974/10X No.191 (translated to Japanese by Hisashi Asakura http://homepage1.nifty.com/ta/sfp/pollock.htm)
Anthologies
- Horror Omnibus, ed. Kurt Singer, titled "The Last Dawn", W. H. Allen, 1965, Panther, 1966.
- Science Fiction by Gaslight, ed. Sam MoskowitzSam MoskowitzSam Moskowitz was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field.-Biography:...
, World, 1968 - Horror 1, ed. Kurt Singer, translated to German from the title "The Last Dawn", 1971 http://www.willscheck.de/buch/horror-singer
- Beyond Time and Space, ed. Robert R. Potter, Globe Book Company, 1978
- The Arbor House Treasury of Science Fiction Masterpieces, ed. Robert SilverbergRobert SilverbergRobert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
& Martin H. GreenbergMartin H. GreenbergMartin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
, Arbor House, 1983 - Great Tales of Science Fiction, ed. Robert Silverberg & Martin H. Greenberg, A&W/Galahad, 1985
- The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories, ed. Tom ShippeyTom ShippeyThomas Alan Shippey is a scholar of medieval literature, including that of Anglo-Saxon England, and of modern fantasy and science fiction, in particular the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, about whom he has written several scholarly studies. He is widely considered one of the leading academic scholars...
, Oxford University Press, 1992 - Bangs and Whimpers: Stories About the End of the World, ed. James FrenkelJames FrenkelJames Raymond Frenkel is a Senior Editor, editing science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction and other books for Tom Doherty Associates . He has edited numerous award-winning authors such as Vernor Vinge, Joan D. Vinge, and Frederik Pohl , Andre Norton, Loren D...
, 1999. - The Mammoth Book of Science Fiction, ed. Mike Ashley, Robinson 1-84119-375-5, Mar 2002.
Adaptations
- The 2001 Radio TalesRadio TalesRadio Tales is an American series of radio dramas produced by Generations Productions. This series adapted classic works of American and world literature such as The War of the Worlds, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Beowulf, Gulliver's Travels, and the One Thousand and One Nights...
drama "Apocalypse" was an adaptation of the story for National Public Radio.
External links
- "Finis" text via Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...