The Great Wall of Mexico (short story)
Encyclopedia
"The Great Wall of Mexico" is a science fiction
short story
by John Sladek
. It was first published in the 1973 anthology Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
edited by Thomas M. Disch
. It was also published in the 1977 anthology Keep the Giraffe Burning
and uploaded to the online science fiction magazine
Sci Fiction
on December 21, 2005.
said "John Sladek's 'The Great Wall of Mexico' attacks its subject by way of an eerie, funny, subversive, almost-surrealism quite impossible to describe; you may get some of the flavor of it if I tell you that the FBI is using retired Senior Citizens to listen to bugged conversations in public places, and that one of them, loyal as he is, vows after his first two hours' excruciating listening that he will never say anything dull in a public place again."
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...
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 John Sladek
John Sladek
John Thomas Sladek was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels.- Life and work :...
. It was first published in the 1973 anthology Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings was a science fiction short story anthology edited by Thomas M. Disch, published in 1973. The title is taken from the 1969 song Bad Moon Rising by the folk band Creedence Clearwater Revival....
edited by Thomas M. Disch
Thomas M. Disch
Thomas Michael Disch was an American science fiction author and poet. He won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book – previously called "Best Non-Fiction Book" – in 1999, and he had two other Hugo nominations and nine Nebula Award nominations to his credit, plus one win of the John W...
. It was also published in the 1977 anthology Keep the Giraffe Burning
Keep the Giraffe Burning
Keep the Giraffe Burning was a science fiction short story collection by John Sladek, published in 1977.- Contents :*Foreword*Elephant with Wooden Leg*The Design*The Face*The Master Plan*Flatland*A Game of Jump...
and uploaded to the online science fiction magazine
Science fiction magazine
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard copy periodical format or on the Internet....
Sci Fiction
Sci Fiction
Sci Fiction was an online magazine which ran from 2000 to 2005. At one time, it was the leading online science fiction magazine. Published by Syfy and edited by Ellen Datlow, the work won multiple awards before it was discontinued.- History :...
on December 21, 2005.
Reception
In reviewing Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction columnist Joanna RussJoanna Russ
Joanna Russ was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as How to Suppress Women's Writing, as well as a contemporary novel, On Strike Against God, and one children's book, Kittatinny...
said "John Sladek's 'The Great Wall of Mexico' attacks its subject by way of an eerie, funny, subversive, almost-surrealism quite impossible to describe; you may get some of the flavor of it if I tell you that the FBI is using retired Senior Citizens to listen to bugged conversations in public places, and that one of them, loyal as he is, vows after his first two hours' excruciating listening that he will never say anything dull in a public place again."
External links
- The Great Wall of Mexico on Sci FictionSci FictionSci Fiction was an online magazine which ran from 2000 to 2005. At one time, it was the leading online science fiction magazine. Published by Syfy and edited by Ellen Datlow, the work won multiple awards before it was discontinued.- History :...