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Pre-1980 short story about solipsism
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This could've be in an anthology; it was a novella or short story, published before 1980.
The main character goes to the psychiatrist because he thinks he is being followed and watched - or is it paranoia? Turns out the government is protecting him because he is the source of all life (god?). The story ends with the world and the darkness closing in on him -- but has a happy ending.
story-identification short-stories novella
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
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asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
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up vote
6
down vote
favorite
This could've be in an anthology; it was a novella or short story, published before 1980.
The main character goes to the psychiatrist because he thinks he is being followed and watched - or is it paranoia? Turns out the government is protecting him because he is the source of all life (god?). The story ends with the world and the darkness closing in on him -- but has a happy ending.
story-identification short-stories novella
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
1
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
This could've be in an anthology; it was a novella or short story, published before 1980.
The main character goes to the psychiatrist because he thinks he is being followed and watched - or is it paranoia? Turns out the government is protecting him because he is the source of all life (god?). The story ends with the world and the darkness closing in on him -- but has a happy ending.
story-identification short-stories novella
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This could've be in an anthology; it was a novella or short story, published before 1980.
The main character goes to the psychiatrist because he thinks he is being followed and watched - or is it paranoia? Turns out the government is protecting him because he is the source of all life (god?). The story ends with the world and the darkness closing in on him -- but has a happy ending.
story-identification short-stories novella
story-identification short-stories novella
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
edited 4 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
35.8k15195236
35.8k15195236
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
asked 5 hours ago
Steve Molle
311
311
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Steve Molle is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
1
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
1
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
1
1
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
1
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
This is "Tonight The Sky Will Fall" by Daniel F. Galouye, collected most notably in Brian Aldiss's Space Opera anthology from 1974.
The story concerns Tarl Brent, who has recently become rich through a series of lucky coincidences. It turns out this is all being manipulated by the government and scientists who discovered that Brent - or a being associated with his subconscious - is actually the source of all existence in reality. They theorise that the being can't actually consciously maintain all it has created, so need to do everything they can to keep it from properly waking up.
At one point it does actually wake, and existence is reduced to a tiny area surrounded by darkness. But they are able to get it back to sleep and existence expands outwards again, restoring things to how they were.
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
This is "Tonight The Sky Will Fall" by Daniel F. Galouye, collected most notably in Brian Aldiss's Space Opera anthology from 1974.
The story concerns Tarl Brent, who has recently become rich through a series of lucky coincidences. It turns out this is all being manipulated by the government and scientists who discovered that Brent - or a being associated with his subconscious - is actually the source of all existence in reality. They theorise that the being can't actually consciously maintain all it has created, so need to do everything they can to keep it from properly waking up.
At one point it does actually wake, and existence is reduced to a tiny area surrounded by darkness. But they are able to get it back to sleep and existence expands outwards again, restoring things to how they were.
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
This is "Tonight The Sky Will Fall" by Daniel F. Galouye, collected most notably in Brian Aldiss's Space Opera anthology from 1974.
The story concerns Tarl Brent, who has recently become rich through a series of lucky coincidences. It turns out this is all being manipulated by the government and scientists who discovered that Brent - or a being associated with his subconscious - is actually the source of all existence in reality. They theorise that the being can't actually consciously maintain all it has created, so need to do everything they can to keep it from properly waking up.
At one point it does actually wake, and existence is reduced to a tiny area surrounded by darkness. But they are able to get it back to sleep and existence expands outwards again, restoring things to how they were.
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
This is "Tonight The Sky Will Fall" by Daniel F. Galouye, collected most notably in Brian Aldiss's Space Opera anthology from 1974.
The story concerns Tarl Brent, who has recently become rich through a series of lucky coincidences. It turns out this is all being manipulated by the government and scientists who discovered that Brent - or a being associated with his subconscious - is actually the source of all existence in reality. They theorise that the being can't actually consciously maintain all it has created, so need to do everything they can to keep it from properly waking up.
At one point it does actually wake, and existence is reduced to a tiny area surrounded by darkness. But they are able to get it back to sleep and existence expands outwards again, restoring things to how they were.
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
This is "Tonight The Sky Will Fall" by Daniel F. Galouye, collected most notably in Brian Aldiss's Space Opera anthology from 1974.
The story concerns Tarl Brent, who has recently become rich through a series of lucky coincidences. It turns out this is all being manipulated by the government and scientists who discovered that Brent - or a being associated with his subconscious - is actually the source of all existence in reality. They theorise that the being can't actually consciously maintain all it has created, so need to do everything they can to keep it from properly waking up.
At one point it does actually wake, and existence is reduced to a tiny area surrounded by darkness. But they are able to get it back to sleep and existence expands outwards again, restoring things to how they were.
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
answered 4 hours ago
Daniel Roseman
42.7k12122157
42.7k12122157
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
add a comment |Â
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
And assuming this is the right answer, this Q is a dupe of scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/133447/…
– Valorum
4 hours ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
@Valorum Ah, the memories. That was the first question I ever asked on this site . . .
– Lorendiac
22 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Steve Molle is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Steve Molle is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Steve Molle is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Steve Molle is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Can you explain how this story has anything to do with solipsism?
– Martha
5 hours ago
1
Welcome to Science Fiction & Fantasy! This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@Martha - presumably, from the description, the universe doesn't exist if this guy doesn't exist, which implies, he's the only real thing there is. The rest of us are no better than figments of his imagination.... Of course, I'm guessing, since I don't know the story.
– RDFozz
4 hours ago
Just to clarify: Why do you say it's pre-1980? Is that when you originally read it (maybe for a class), providing you with an exact timeframe? Do you remember any details about the book/magazine/whatever it was in? Can you remember anything about the style of the story, or the details of it, that would indicate when it was written? What language was it written in/did you read it in? What country did you read it in?
– RDFozz
4 hours ago