Short Story Sunday: Obstinate Uncle Otis, Robert Arthur
Obstinate Uncle Otis, Robert Arthur
I’ve written extensively about my relationship with this oddity about a man who gets hit by lightning and is suddenly emboldened with a power I’m pretty sure we all would like to have. It was originally published in Argosy Weekly in July 1941 and, thanks to some kind and passionate soul, can be read for free here: http://www.unz.org/Pub/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19-00033?View=PDF
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Lately I’ve been working on the overwhelming task of thinning out my book collection; it’s something no book lover likes to do, but let’s face it, every once in a while it has to be done, either to clear clutter or make room for more.
It’s no surprise that a good portion of my collection is devoted to short story collections. I’ve read my share of great stories, and I’ve read my share of awful ones—but I’ve also read my share of a few that blew me away to the point at which I’ll never forget them. So instead of doing a typical “Top” list, I decided instead to focus on ones which fall into the last category (please note that in my “about” descriptions I tried to be spoiler-free). Do you have any that have made a lasting impression on you? Leave them in the comments.
Posted on April 12, 2015, in Short Stories and tagged "Obstinate Uncle Otis", Argosy, Robert Arthur, Science Fiction Short Stories, Twilight Zone, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
Robert Arthur was my great uncle & this was the 1st story I read of his as a young boy.
Wow! I am so happy to meet you. I love and cherish this story (obviously). I’m speechless, actually…I feel honored and have no idea what to even say…
Did he ever tell you about the story and how he wrote it? Or was he a great uncle that you never got to know?
I have fond memories of “Obstinate Uncle Otis”, as I read it in childhood. In my fourth grade summer camp cabin, ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S GHOSTLY GALLERY was a volume that was passed around from boy to boy.
Today I wonder if perhaps “Otis” might have been influenced by Theordore Sturgeon’s “The Ultimate Egoist”, which has a nearly-identical premise and resolution. Sturgeon’s story came out in February 1942, Arthur’s in July 1942. Makes you think . . .
This is WONDERFUL to hear! Otis fans, unite!! Hey–I NEVER READ “The Ultimate Egoist.” I am going to track that down. Thank you!
I first read Obstinate Uncle Otis about 20 years after it was first published in Argosy. My brother had gotten a collection of Ghost Stories supposedly put together by Alfred Hitchcock. At age 13 (or thereabouts), I had to look up the word “obstinate” but found the story itself to be much easier to understand, though I admit I had to go through the ending two or three more times to make sure I’d gotten it. Still, to this day, I recall the story’s title and the general storyline.
Thank you for giving me a chance to re-read it 50+ years later. I had paid no attention to the authors’ names back in the 60’s and my brother’s copy of the book had long since disappeared after two moves by our family and who knows how many by my brother and myself. Of course, it never occurred to me to try a library since I did not know the author’s name.
Again, thanks for this chance to re-live a small part of my youth.
Mc🔑
Hi Mickey,
This is amazing, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to respond–I haven’t been checking my comments. I am wondering if the Hitchcock book you mentioned might actually be one I have in my basement (I haunt a lot of used book sales)–and it’s clear I never read it, so I’ll have to go down and look and see if it’s that book and if this story is in it. If it is, I will let you know, but what you described sounds familiar. But anyway–hearing how you got to read this again and it brought you some joy…this made my day. Made my week. Made my month. I don’t care if I’m screaming into the void, but I really do care when someone in that void lets me know that I made a day a little brighter.
K