Nothing but Gingerbread Left

"Nothing but Gingerbread Left" is a short story by Henry Kuttner. It was first published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1943.[1] The story describes a marching song, developed by linguists, that is so "catchy" that it preoccupies the mind of anyone who hears it to such a degree that they are unable to think about anything else: an "earworm". Written during World War II, it describes the song's effects on German morale, climaxing with Adolf Hitler failing to deliver an important speech about the Eastern Front because he cannot stop thinking about the song.[2]

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction has noted it as an early example of memes in fiction.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Clareson, Thomas D. (1976). Voices for the Future: Essays on Major Science Fiction Writers, Volume 1. Popular Press. p. 191. ISBN 9780879721206. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Kuttner, Henry. "Nothing But Gingerbread Left". Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2017. Full text of story
  3. ↑ Meme, in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction; by David Langford; edited by John Clute; published 02/04/2015; retrieved August 7, 2018

Further reading

  • "Nothing but Gingerbread Left". Tense, said the Tensor. 23 May 2004.


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