Thy Rocks and Rills

"Thy Rocks and Rills" by Robert E. Gilbert, is a science fiction story from the 1950s, set in a bleak future where bullfighting is a violent form of entertainment. A farmer named M. Stonecypher finds himself in a strange rivalry with L. Dan, a sinister hobbyist, highlighting questions about what society considers normal in terms of manliness and fun. The story revolves around Stonecypher's bull, Moe, who became incredibly smart and strong because of radiation and now must partake in a deadly bullfight on Dependence Day. The bullfight becomes a way to question ideas about freedom, morals, and the basic need to survive, leading to a final fight between humans and the expectations they place on animals, ultimately forcing the reader to think deeply about how humans control the natural world.