"The Battle of the Bells" by Jerome Bixby is a short story that dives into a small town's quiet life, turned upside down by a practical joker named Charley Mason. Set in western Pennsylvania, the story unfolds when one of Charley's outhouse pranks goes too far, causing a city woman to go on a rant about right and wrong that gets the attention of beings from Heaven and Hell. A battle starts between a good young man and a dark figure over Charley's soul and the question of whether his jokes are truly harmless. Readers are taken on a humorous ride that blends small-town charm with a bigger discussion about being aware of yourself and what's right, making one think about the difference between a funny joke and something that could hurt someone’s feelings.
The Battle of the Bells
By Jerome Bixby
When a small-town prankster's joke spirals out of control, a divine battle breaks out to decide the fate of his soul, sparking questions of good, evil, and the true cost of a laugh.
Summary
About the AuthorDrexel Jerome Lewis Bixby was an American short story writer and scriptwriter. He wrote the 1953 story "It's a Good Life", which was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame. It formed the basis of a 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone and was remade in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983). He wrote four episodes for the Star Trek series: "Mirror, Mirror", "Day of the Dove", "Requiem for Methuselah", and "By Any Other Name". With Otto Klement, he co-wrote the story upon which the science fiction movie Fantastic Voyage (1966), the related television series, and the related Isaac Asimov novel were based. Bixby's final produced or published work so far was the screenplay for the 2007 science fiction film The Man from Earth.
Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby was an American short story writer and scriptwriter. He wrote the 1953 story "It's a Good Life", which was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame. It formed the basis of a 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone and was remade in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983). He wrote four episodes for the Star Trek series: "Mirror, Mirror", "Day of the Dove", "Requiem for Methuselah", and "By Any Other Name". With Otto Klement, he co-wrote the story upon which the science fiction movie Fantastic Voyage (1966), the related television series, and the related Isaac Asimov novel were based. Bixby's final produced or published work so far was the screenplay for the 2007 science fiction film The Man from Earth.
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