Character reincarnated…as a snail
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I'm trying to hunt down a story (I think it's very early SF) about a character who tries to convince his friend that he will be reincarnated. He trains himself to trace a symbol--a Greek letter, can't remember but either "phi" or "theta"--so automatically that he does it all the time, unconsciously, telling the friend that this symbol is how he can be identified in his next life. The character dies, and one day the friend is walking down the sidewalk and observes a snail, slowly tracing the symbol with its slime as it crawls. It was a very chilling ending, as I recall. But I can't remember the title or author.
story-identification short-stories reincarnation
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
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I'm trying to hunt down a story (I think it's very early SF) about a character who tries to convince his friend that he will be reincarnated. He trains himself to trace a symbol--a Greek letter, can't remember but either "phi" or "theta"--so automatically that he does it all the time, unconsciously, telling the friend that this symbol is how he can be identified in his next life. The character dies, and one day the friend is walking down the sidewalk and observes a snail, slowly tracing the symbol with its slime as it crawls. It was a very chilling ending, as I recall. But I can't remember the title or author.
story-identification short-stories reincarnation
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
1
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago
add a comment |
I'm trying to hunt down a story (I think it's very early SF) about a character who tries to convince his friend that he will be reincarnated. He trains himself to trace a symbol--a Greek letter, can't remember but either "phi" or "theta"--so automatically that he does it all the time, unconsciously, telling the friend that this symbol is how he can be identified in his next life. The character dies, and one day the friend is walking down the sidewalk and observes a snail, slowly tracing the symbol with its slime as it crawls. It was a very chilling ending, as I recall. But I can't remember the title or author.
story-identification short-stories reincarnation
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm trying to hunt down a story (I think it's very early SF) about a character who tries to convince his friend that he will be reincarnated. He trains himself to trace a symbol--a Greek letter, can't remember but either "phi" or "theta"--so automatically that he does it all the time, unconsciously, telling the friend that this symbol is how he can be identified in his next life. The character dies, and one day the friend is walking down the sidewalk and observes a snail, slowly tracing the symbol with its slime as it crawls. It was a very chilling ending, as I recall. But I can't remember the title or author.
story-identification short-stories reincarnation
story-identification short-stories reincarnation
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
asked yesterday
Carol HuntCarol Hunt
762
762
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Carol Hunt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
1
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago
add a comment |
bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
1
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago
bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
1
1
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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This is "The Sign" by Lord Dunsany. It's described on a message board as follows:
Another of Jorkens' tall tales from the billiard room, this one concerning the transmigration of the soul. Horcher, a walking superiority complex and habitual snail-stomper, promised Jorkens that, when he died, he'd leave a sign to inform him of his elevation to God-like status. In the event, it doesn't quite work out for him.
I read the story myself and remember the details from your query that aren't in this description: Horcher training himself to draw the phi sign automatically, and the snail drawing the sign after Horcher's death. (If I recall correctly, Horcher doesn't literally expect to attain God-like status, but he does expect to be a Very Important Person.)
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
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This is "The Sign" by Lord Dunsany. It's described on a message board as follows:
Another of Jorkens' tall tales from the billiard room, this one concerning the transmigration of the soul. Horcher, a walking superiority complex and habitual snail-stomper, promised Jorkens that, when he died, he'd leave a sign to inform him of his elevation to God-like status. In the event, it doesn't quite work out for him.
I read the story myself and remember the details from your query that aren't in this description: Horcher training himself to draw the phi sign automatically, and the snail drawing the sign after Horcher's death. (If I recall correctly, Horcher doesn't literally expect to attain God-like status, but he does expect to be a Very Important Person.)
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
add a comment |
This is "The Sign" by Lord Dunsany. It's described on a message board as follows:
Another of Jorkens' tall tales from the billiard room, this one concerning the transmigration of the soul. Horcher, a walking superiority complex and habitual snail-stomper, promised Jorkens that, when he died, he'd leave a sign to inform him of his elevation to God-like status. In the event, it doesn't quite work out for him.
I read the story myself and remember the details from your query that aren't in this description: Horcher training himself to draw the phi sign automatically, and the snail drawing the sign after Horcher's death. (If I recall correctly, Horcher doesn't literally expect to attain God-like status, but he does expect to be a Very Important Person.)
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
add a comment |
This is "The Sign" by Lord Dunsany. It's described on a message board as follows:
Another of Jorkens' tall tales from the billiard room, this one concerning the transmigration of the soul. Horcher, a walking superiority complex and habitual snail-stomper, promised Jorkens that, when he died, he'd leave a sign to inform him of his elevation to God-like status. In the event, it doesn't quite work out for him.
I read the story myself and remember the details from your query that aren't in this description: Horcher training himself to draw the phi sign automatically, and the snail drawing the sign after Horcher's death. (If I recall correctly, Horcher doesn't literally expect to attain God-like status, but he does expect to be a Very Important Person.)
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
This is "The Sign" by Lord Dunsany. It's described on a message board as follows:
Another of Jorkens' tall tales from the billiard room, this one concerning the transmigration of the soul. Horcher, a walking superiority complex and habitual snail-stomper, promised Jorkens that, when he died, he'd leave a sign to inform him of his elevation to God-like status. In the event, it doesn't quite work out for him.
I read the story myself and remember the details from your query that aren't in this description: Horcher training himself to draw the phi sign automatically, and the snail drawing the sign after Horcher's death. (If I recall correctly, Horcher doesn't literally expect to attain God-like status, but he does expect to be a Very Important Person.)
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
edited 9 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
95.2k12293455
95.2k12293455
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
answered yesterday
Adam SAdam S
2063
2063
add a comment |
add a comment |
Carol Hunt is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Carol Hunt is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Carol Hunt is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Carol Hunt is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/05/reincarnathan
– Valorum
yesterday
1
Hi, welcome to SF&F! You might want to check out the suggestions for asking story-id questions; there could be points there that trigger some additional memories, or just details you didn't think to add.
– DavidW
yesterday
If the question has been answered to your satisfaction, you can "accept" an answer by clicking on the check mark next to it.
– user14111
23 hours ago