1
edit
Changes
no edit summary
== SCI-FI ELEMENTS ==
Although, It’s A Good Life is not your traditional science-fiction story (it borders more on fantasy or horror), it does demonstrate some fundamental sci-fi elements. Specifically, this story demonstrates a very good “sense of wonder.” This means that nothing is really explained, it is left up to the reader’s imagination. This literary technique is quite strong because it allows the reader to “fill in the blanks” so to speak. Instead of having things tediously explained, Bixby leaves it up to the reader to provide any necessary details for how things are accomplished. Basically, it is the imagination of the reader that propels the story.
There are also some minor elements or “science gone wrong”. Anthony’s appearance is never fully described, but there is mention of him “odd shadow” and his personality doesn’t seem to be that of a three-year-old boy. Is Anthony a deformed monster? Was he born this way or did he use his powers to manifest a different form for himself? These questions are never answered, there are only minor clues sprinkled throughout the story to support them. The rest is left up to the reader to decide; this helps make the story different for each reader.