The Man in the Reservoir

"The Man in the Reservoir" by Charles Fenno Hoffman is a short story that immerses readers in the nightmarish experience of a young man struggling for survival, whose fishing trip in the Distributing Reservoir turns into a desperate fight against the water itself. As the protagonist plunges into frigid depths, the story explores themes of isolation and despair, examining the man's thoughts on love, life, and mortality as he confronts his peril. Set against the evolving backdrop of 19th-century New York, the narrative blends humor and horror, with a mixture of self-pity and sudden insights driving the man to find a way out; a moment in which he is unexpectedly aided by the very fish he sought to capture, making for a climax filled with suspense and existential depth.