Bread Overhead by Fritz Leiber

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About this eBook

Author Leiber, Fritz, 1910-1992
Illustrator Wood, Wallace, 1927-1981
Title Bread Overhead
Series Title Produced from Galaxy February 1958.
Note Reading ease score: 61.8 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "Bread Overhead" by Fritz Leiber is a satirical science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. Set in a future where automation and technology are dominant, the narrative humorously explores the absurdity of a world where bread-making machines inadvertently create flying loaves of bread. The story touches on themes of consumerism, technological mishaps, and the intersections of corporate ambition and marketing folly. The plot unfolds in a dystopian future marked by mechanized processes, where innovative efforts to create a lighter bread result in a catastrophic error. The protagonist, Roger Snedden, substitutes hydrogen for helium in an effort to circumvent a government ban on helium, leading to an unexpected phenomenon: lossy loaves of bread taking to the skies. This chaos instigates a global spectacle, causing panic among citizens and confusion among authorities. As the bread floats across the landscape, it triggers various reactions—ranging from humor and joy to fear and governmental response—culminating in a comedic exploration of human behavior in response to bizarre circumstances. Ultimately, amidst the chaos and hilarity, the story delivers a commentary on the often absurd consequences of technological progress and consumer culture. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject Business -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 22579
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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