Hard Guy

by Howard Browne

He was standing at the side of the glassite super-highway, his arm half-raised, thumb pointed in the same direction as that of the approaching rocket car. Ordinarily Frederick Marden would have passed a hitch-hiker without stopping, but there was something in the bearing and appearance of this one that caused him to apply his brakes.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction

10 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1942

About the author

Howard Browne (April 15, 1908–October 28, 1999) was a science fiction editor and mystery writer. He also wrote for several television series and films. Some of his work appeared over the pseudonyms John Evans, Alexander Blade, Lawrence Chandler, Ivar Jorgensen, and Lee Francis.

Beginning in 1942, Browne worked as managing editor for Ziff-Davis publications on Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures, both under Raymond A. Palmer's editorship. When Palmer left the magazines in 1949, Browne took over in January 1950. Browne ended the publication of Richard Shaver's Shaver Mystery and oversaw the change in Amazing from a pulp magazine to a digest. He left the magazines in 1956 to move to Hollywood.

In Hollywood, Browne wrote for television shows including Maverick, Ben Casey, and The Virginian. His last credit was for the film Capone (1975), starring Ben Gazzara.

Reviews

[Katrina McCollough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, can be found on gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26855...

[Zen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh. Am I supposed to laugh now.

This isn't a story. It's supposed to be a joke.

But it falls flat.

The problem is that in the last sentence we are told the "Hard Guy" is only eleven years old.

So....why wait till then to tell us that. Throughout the previous bit of this fragment, we are led to believe that the "Hard Guy" is a full grown adult. Allbeit one who is in a somewhat "ragged" condition.

The implication is that the driver who picked up the hitchhiking man had no idea he was a youngster around eleven years old.

But if he knew the hitchhiker was only eleven years old, obviously he was just playing along with him.

I guess that is what is supposed to be the joke.

Not particularly funny when told this way.

Now what would have been funny, is the reader knew, when the hitchhiker was picked up, he was eleven years old. In that situation, there is ample room for humour to abound, if this youngster starts acting like a "Hard Guy". The reader then is able to play along with the silliness and he have a good laugh at the same time.

Some writers don't know how to tell a joke.

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of LibriVox Short Science Fiction Collection 015. A reasonable attempt by an amateur narrator attempting to improve his English, I don’t expect more for free. This nano-narrative is almost too short to contain anything more than the twist at the end. Like many tiny things it’s nothing special but is just cute enough to escape criticism. 6:55

[Ralph McEwen]

Hitchhikers ride.

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: 00:06:55
Read By: Bookman

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short. More of a joke in a SF setting than a real story. Has the humor of the 1950's SF crowd.

[Bill Sandifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A combination of O. Henry and Twilight Zone. Charming and heartwarming. An artifact from a simpler era.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely simple sci-fi short story...