Fairy Tale Spotlight: Shatterday [Short Story Review]

"Shatterday" is a short story written by Harlan Ellison. It was published in 1980. Interestingly, it was featured as the story in the very first episode of The Twilight Zone's 1985 reunion show. I have not seen it though.

So back in the olden days, we did not all have cellphones. We had regular telephones, and you had to remember the numbers for everyone important in your life. You especially had to remember your own phone number as well, so you could tell people how to contact you. This is a problem that people just don't have anymore with the advent of mobile contact lists.

One of the things that would often happen to people was that you might accidently dial your own home number when you meant to dial the number for someone else. It happened to me all the time when I was growing up. In the case of "Shatterday," the main character makes this very common mistake. He calls his own house... but to his surprise... he actually picks up the phone on the other end.

Both versions of this man are surprised by this supernatural occurrence, but it soon leads to them both trying to take control of their one life. This is a very hard thing to do when you both understand each other. That's not all this story has to offer though. You see, the original man who accidently made that call is kind of a shitbag. I know that sounds mean, but that's also kind of the point. His doppelganger is actually trying to fix his life and make it better. Interestingly enough... it's kind of working for him.

The story is not so much about running into yourself as it is with running into a darker (or lighter) version of you. The part of you that you might have been if you had made different decisions in life. For that reason, the battle is actually a matter of good versus evil. Whoever loses will end up fading away into nothing.

This is a great crossroads story! I was really impressed with it. There is a lot to learn from it, and it might make you think what you might have been like if you were a on the opposing side of the moral spectrum. I recommend the story. I love fiction that makes you turn the view inward. Introspection can be a good thing sometimes.

This blog was written on July 22, 2024.

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