
In a distant corner of the galaxy, an invisible pair of beings—one a sleek intelligence, the other a mischievous co‑adjutor—convene to choose a test subject from Earth. Their conversation is a blend of bureaucratic calculation and dark humor as they decide how many “Little,” “Big,” and a single “Great” Gift to bestow on a seemingly ordinary man. Their selection hinges on subtle judgments of his social standing, intellect, and emotional balance, setting the stage for a cosmic experiment that could decide the fate of humanity.
Ernie Meeker, a Chicago barber with a habit of buying cheap razor blades, becomes the unsuspecting recipient of these alien endowments. As he goes through his routine shaves, the blades behave oddly—some sharper, some duller—hinting at forces beyond the mundane. Meeker’s ordinary world begins to ripple with the strange influence of the Gifts, forcing him to confront choices that feel both trivial and profoundly consequential.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (67K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2016-03-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1910–1992
A sharp, imaginative voice in fantasy, horror, and science fiction, this American writer helped shape modern sword-and-sorcery through the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. His work is known for its wit, atmosphere, and willingness to move easily between eerie horror, big ideas, and playful adventure.
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