# Short Fiction — Themes

> Major themes in Short Fiction by R. A. Lafferty.

## Reality and Perception

The book repeatedly questions the nature of reality versus dream or illusion, as seen in stories like 'The Six Fingers of Time' where time slows down, and 'Dream World' where a shared nightmare challenges which world is real.

## Human Connection and Isolation

Themes of loneliness and the struggle for meaningful connection appear in 'McGonigal’s Worm' where humanity faces extinction, and in 'All the People' where a man knows everyone yet feels utterly friendless.

## Extinction and Legacy

The fear of human extinction and the effort to preserve knowledge for future beings is central in 'McGonigal’s Worm' and the Capsule Institute, exploring what remains when humanity is gone.

## Social Politeness and Repression

In 'The Polite People of Pudibundia', extreme politeness masks deep social control and lethal shame, critiquing how rigid social norms can suppress individuality and lead to violence.

## Identity and Self-Worth

Characters like Aloys Foulcault-Oeg and Anthony Trotz grapple with impostor syndrome, pride, and fear, highlighting the fragile nature of self-esteem and the gap between public recognition and private doubt.

## The Absurd and Inexplicable

Many stories embrace absurdity, such as disappearing fire plugs, tiny people, and shared grotesque dreams, using surreal events to explore human responses to the inexplicable.

## Gender and Polarity

The book examines gender roles and attraction through the Beta/Gamma polarity in 'The Weirdest World', and the forced reproduction plot in 'McGonigal’s Worm', questioning biological and social imperatives.

## Knowledge and Its Limits

The limits of human cognition are explored in 'All the People' and through the philosopher and priest, questioning whether the mind can truly comprehend all people or universal truths.

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