Micro-Man

"Micro-Man" by Forrest J. Ackerman, is a science fiction tale from the late 1940s about a college student's surprising encounter with a miniature man named Jeko on a streetcar. The story dives into themes of wonder and the essence of life as seen through the eyes of both the student and the tiny man. When the student finds Jeko on a matchbox, the story follows Jeko's travels from his land, Mortia, into a human world full of towering things that frighten him. We learn Jeko's thoughts as he struggles with the vast size of this new reality, desperately seeking safety while also glimpsing into the worries of scientists in Jeko's world, who are dealing with a calamitous experiment. The story then combines mortality and justice, leading to a puzzling conclusion.