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And All the Earth a Grave
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1963
About the author
C.C. MacApp
67 books6 followersC. C. MacApp - pseudonym of Carroll Mather Capps - was an American science fiction author. He also wrote as Carroll J. Clem.
Capps was also a well-known chess player in the San Francisco area.
Capps was also a well-known chess player in the San Francisco area.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 6, 2015
nutty nuut
Opening: It all began when the new bookkeeping machine of a large Midwestern coffin manufacturer slipped a cog, or blew a transistor, or something. It was fantastic that the error -- one of two decimal places -- should enjoy a straight run of okays, human and mechanical, clear down the line; but when the figures clacked out at the last clacking-out station, there it was. The figures were now sacred; immutable; and it is doubtful whether the President of the concern or the Chairman of the Board would have dared question them -- even if either of those two gentlemen had been in town.
Opening: It all began when the new bookkeeping machine of a large Midwestern coffin manufacturer slipped a cog, or blew a transistor, or something. It was fantastic that the error -- one of two decimal places -- should enjoy a straight run of okays, human and mechanical, clear down the line; but when the figures clacked out at the last clacking-out station, there it was. The figures were now sacred; immutable; and it is doubtful whether the President of the concern or the Chairman of the Board would have dared question them -- even if either of those two gentlemen had been in town.
May 2, 2014
Do you ever wonder what influence media and advertising has on people? After reading this story, you may never look mass marketing the same way again.
July 2, 2011
Death finally gets some marketing.
Audio Book MP3 downloaded from
http://librivox.org/short-science-fic...
Public Domain stories from Project Gutenberg, that are read by volunteers.
I listen to these short stories while walking to and from work.
Play Duration: 00:18:38
Read By: Bellona Times
Audio Book MP3 downloaded from
http://librivox.org/short-science-fic...
Public Domain stories from Project Gutenberg, that are read by volunteers.
I listen to these short stories while walking to and from work.
Play Duration: 00:18:38
Read By: Bellona Times
September 1, 2012
There's nothing wrong with dying--it just hasn't ever had the proper sales pitch!
The American Casket industry launches a massive advertising campaign...
an unusual tale...
The American Casket industry launches a massive advertising campaign...
an unusual tale...
August 23, 2017
A very short satire on materialism and the power of advertising. The final joke in the story wasn't very tasteful, but it made a highly appropriate point.
June 11, 2025
would believe today. premise alone is spectacular. witty prose ties it together perfectly
July 3, 2020
A quick humorous read. The power of advertising.
October 21, 2025
The impact of marketing on the masses. Haunting considering the product is coffins.
November 18, 2020
Great story. Kind of gives you the feel of an old "Twilight Zone" episode. The main storyline is true of most people today. Once an idea catches on with one person it soon follows with the majority. I really liked this one. Example from the book...
"He settled at last upon a rich mahogany number
with platinum trimmings, an Automatic Self-Adjusting Cadavercontour Innerspring Wearever-Plastic-Covered Mattress with a built in
bar."
A+++
"He settled at last upon a rich mahogany number
with platinum trimmings, an Automatic Self-Adjusting Cadavercontour Innerspring Wearever-Plastic-Covered Mattress with a built in
bar."
A+++
December 11, 2014
Quick read
It was a good story and it did point out the shortcoming of man's increasing commercialism. Interesting concept. Not a bad story over all.
It was a good story and it did point out the shortcoming of man's increasing commercialism. Interesting concept. Not a bad story over all.
September 14, 2025
Christmas is coming up and the coffin industry wanted a bigger year this year. Things have not really been that great for the last years. However, the advertising manager at the coffin factory is there when the ones above here in the company are out of town, and there is a mistake on the budget for the advertising department. He has 100 times what he expected but only 50 times what he had asked for so he has all the money he needs.
Suddenly, dieing becomes the THING. Everybody has to have the latest in coffins and some actually get coffins that will hold the entire family and the family cat as well. In fact some are virtual houses for the dead. Gradually in this new economy era, everybody just has to have a coffin to live in and pretty soon, everybody is dead and laying in one. The only ones left are an old prospector and his burro.
When dead and coffins is the going thing, you can image things do get weirdly different. I picked this book because it seems quirky in just the right way.
Suddenly, dieing becomes the THING. Everybody has to have the latest in coffins and some actually get coffins that will hold the entire family and the family cat as well. In fact some are virtual houses for the dead. Gradually in this new economy era, everybody just has to have a coffin to live in and pretty soon, everybody is dead and laying in one. The only ones left are an old prospector and his burro.
When dead and coffins is the going thing, you can image things do get weirdly different. I picked this book because it seems quirky in just the right way.
February 12, 2019
This was one of the weirdest stories I've ever read, but also one of the most fun.
Due to an accounting error, companies in the United States begin to put massive effort into advertising coffins. The advertising works, and people buy up coffins in droves--not only in the States, but all over the world. The fad is as addictive as it is ridiculous--but you can only buy so many empty coffins. The question is--how to fill them?
Though it's a really disturbing premise, this story was really too lighthearted to be creepy. It's a pessimistic take both on human nature and the consumerist society of the author's time, but it's fun and does provide some interesting food for thought.
Due to an accounting error, companies in the United States begin to put massive effort into advertising coffins. The advertising works, and people buy up coffins in droves--not only in the States, but all over the world. The fad is as addictive as it is ridiculous--but you can only buy so many empty coffins. The question is--how to fill them?
Though it's a really disturbing premise, this story was really too lighthearted to be creepy. It's a pessimistic take both on human nature and the consumerist society of the author's time, but it's fun and does provide some interesting food for thought.
January 3, 2026
A fun and wickedly clever story that has actually predicted the future.
Think about all the nonsense caused by Cabbage Patch Kids or Beanie Babies. Or even all the Star Wars crap that goes on.
Everybody always wants to be Everybody and feel Special and Individual at the same time.
I won't spoil the final joke that ends the story but it had me laughing out loud. A cutting indictment of the reality of the human animal.
And it's actually the same joke that shows up near the end of the novel "Notre-Dame de Paris" by Victor Hogo. Lucky Burro. Lucky Goat!
Think about all the nonsense caused by Cabbage Patch Kids or Beanie Babies. Or even all the Star Wars crap that goes on.
Everybody always wants to be Everybody and feel Special and Individual at the same time.
I won't spoil the final joke that ends the story but it had me laughing out loud. A cutting indictment of the reality of the human animal.
And it's actually the same joke that shows up near the end of the novel "Notre-Dame de Paris" by Victor Hogo. Lucky Burro. Lucky Goat!
September 25, 2025
and all the earth a grave feels timely in our influencer age. the story's take on chasing trends and viral fads rings especially true now. the story shows that our obsession with the "next big thing" isn't new, just amplified by technology. a clever premise that gains relevance with each passing social media cycle, even if the execution is only solid rather than exceptional.
May 9, 2022
I listened to this novella as part of the First Science Fiction Megapack. It is about a salesman promoting coffins which leads to all the worlds death. I would recommend to readers of fantasy. Enjoy the adventure of books. 2022
April 8, 2019
Absolutely bizarre.
December 12, 2019
Fun but very silly. Clearly written with the author’s tongue firmly in his cheek!
April 21, 2020
This was a very strange tale to be sure!
March 11, 2024
I think the reason that writers over the years keep using this trope is because ridiculous consumerism continues to reign supreme.
May 24, 2025
Wonderful story, loved it!
November 18, 2025
this is how I imagine business and marketing majors
May 8, 2026
Really weird but I see the message
September 20, 2022
In the '60 this story was outrageous and darkly funny. Sixty years later and it feels almost as possibility!
July 12, 2020
When advertisers lead sheeple will follow.
March 17, 2018
Part of LibriVox Audiobook “Short Science Fiction Collection Vol.003“. Marketing taken to its final and quite hilarious conclusion... I’m sure I’ve listened to this before.
Also first story 1/20 in LibriVox Audiobook “Short SF Collection Vol. 059”. Well narrated by Rosie9 16 mins
Also first story 1/20 in LibriVox Audiobook “Short SF Collection Vol. 059”. Well narrated by Rosie9 16 mins
July 18, 2016
A Mild Humor Piece Reflecting Its Period
C.C. MacApp was the pseudonym of Carroll Mather Capps, an American science fiction author. His work mostly dates from the early 1960's.
This brief piece describes what happens when the full force of advertising and media saturation is focused on the casket business. The humor is along the lines of ads that declare "the gift that lasts longer than a lifetime".
It was interesting to me mostly because it really reflects the kind of humor that was considered edgy and outrageous in the 60's. It goes hand in hand with movies and other books that took satirical shots at Madison Avenue. This could easily have found a home in Playboy or Esquire or a similar magazine.
As such it turned out to be an interesting freebie and a perfectly pleasant and cheeky read.
C.C. MacApp was the pseudonym of Carroll Mather Capps, an American science fiction author. His work mostly dates from the early 1960's.
This brief piece describes what happens when the full force of advertising and media saturation is focused on the casket business. The humor is along the lines of ads that declare "the gift that lasts longer than a lifetime".
It was interesting to me mostly because it really reflects the kind of humor that was considered edgy and outrageous in the 60's. It goes hand in hand with movies and other books that took satirical shots at Madison Avenue. This could easily have found a home in Playboy or Esquire or a similar magazine.
As such it turned out to be an interesting freebie and a perfectly pleasant and cheeky read.
June 26, 2015
Takes about fifteen to thirty minutes to read. Does what the tin says.
December 18, 2015
Very amusing.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews