
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 master of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, he helped shape modern genre fiction with sharp wit, dark imagination, and unforgettable adventurers like Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. His work ranged from sword-and-sorcery classics to eerie urban tales, earning lasting praise from generations of readers.
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