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Pursuit

Written by Lester Del Rey

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Science FictionTime travelSubconsciousness

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About this book

"Pursuit" by Lester Del Rey is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story revolves around Wilbur Hawkes, a man who is caught in a mysterious and terrifying situation, having lost his memory for the last seven months, during which dark and inexplicable events transpired. As he navigates the dangers of being pursued, he grapples with his fractured consciousness and the lurking threat of unknown forces. The opening of the novel presents Wilbur Hawkes awakening from a nightmare filled with dread and confusion, panicking upon discovering that time has slipped away from him. He senses he is being hunted and experiences bizarre occurrences around him that hint at something sinister. As he frantically attempts to escape his pursuers, he encounters various elements of danger, including destruction at his apartment and strange, extraordinary events that defy logic. His journey unfolds with a mix of suspense, urgency, and an exploration of darker themes concerning memory, fear, and identity, setting the stage for a thrilling narrative.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Pursuit, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • mysterious
  • suspenseful
  • dark

Lester Del Rey's "Pursuit" is an early 1950s science fiction novel thrusting protagonist Wilbur Hawkes into a terrifying psychological ordeal. Awakening with a seven-month memory gap, Hawkes is plagued by dread, confusion, and the overwhelming sensation of being relentlessly hunted by unknown forces. As he frantically navigates a world where logic is defied by bizarre occurrences, including destruction at his own apartment, he must piece together his fractured past while evading his mysterious pursuers. The narrative combines elements of suspense and urgency with a deeper exploration of memory, fear, and identity, setting the stage for a thrilling and disorienting journey into the unknown.

“The dread was a cold knot in his stomach, a premonition of horrors he couldn't name.”

Key themes

Memory and Identity
Central to the novel, this theme explores how memory forms the foundation of one's identity. Wilbur Hawkes's loss of seven months of his past creates an existential crisis, forcing him to question who he is and what defines him. The pursuit becomes not just an escape from physical danger but a desperate quest to reclaim his self-knowledge and the continuity of his existence.
Fear and Paranoia
The novel is steeped in an atmosphere of pervasive fear and paranoia, driven by Wilbur's amnesia and the relentless, unseen pursuit. This theme explores how the unknown can breed intense psychological distress, making the protagonist question his sanity and the reality of his surroundings. The fear is both internal (due to memory loss) and external (due to the hunters).
The Unknown and the Inexplicable
At the heart of this science fiction novel is the confrontation with forces and events that defy logic and understanding. This theme explores humanity's struggle to comprehend and cope with phenomena that exist beyond the realm of known science or conventional reality. The 'dark and inexplicable events' and 'extraordinary events' challenge the boundaries of what is possible.

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How does the loss of memory impact Wilbur Hawkes's sense of identity and reality?

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