First published 1977
Mr Stone takes pride in his position as Head Librarian at Excal. The thought of retirement fills him with dread. He cannot bear the idea of empty days stretching ahead without purpose or companionship. After knowing Mrs Springer only briefly, he decides to marry her. The marriage serves as his shield against the twin threats of boredom and isolation that retirement would bring. Once married, inspiration strikes him. He conceives a plan to establish the Knights Companion, a new order within his company. This scheme represents more than just an organizational innovation. For Mr Stone, it becomes his weapon against the meaninglessness he fears will consume his later years.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, academic
Vibes: character-driven, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-transformation, midlife-crisis
Setting: Excal
Period: 20th-century
128 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books