太陽系最後の日 アーサー・クラーク

「太陽系最後の日」の著者は、映画「２００１年宇宙の旅」2001 Space Odysseyの原作者、Arthur C. Clarkeの作品で、原題はRescue Party(救助隊）。１９４６年の短篇。
作品の発想が奇想天外。あと数時間で太陽が爆発して地球が破壊されるというときに、地球人を救おうとAlveronが率いる宇宙船が地球に向かうが、地球に到着しても地球人を発見できない。あきらめて地球を脱出するときに何千というロケットが地球から宇宙空間に飛び立っているのを発見する。地球人は知性が劣ると思っていたが、そうではなかった。エンディングでは、after all, we only outnumber them [earth peopl] about a thousand million to one."(我々は地球人より１０億倍の数がある）と冗談を言っていたが、２０年後には笑い事ではなくなる。
クラークは小説の舞台を地球爆発寸前の場にした。そこで宇宙人が地球人を救出するという、とんでもない発想で、小説を書いたが、そのひらめきがすごい。エンディングもいい。真似ができるものではない。
   Averon and his race, highly advanced space creatures in the universe, try to rescue people on the earth, whom they think primitive. However, at the end of the story they are surprised to see thousands of rockets flying into space, escaping the explosion of the earth. Averon is surprised at the highly advanced technology accomplished by the people on the earth.                                                                                                                                         

The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant

Questions on "The Necklace"

1. It is unnatural for Loisel to go to Forestier to borrow the jewel because Loisel "would so  have liked to please, to be envied, to be charming, to be sought after." In other words, she disliked to be pitied, to be sympathizied, to disgrace herself, to be looked down upon. She is the least women who would borrow a jewel from her aquaintance. That would be a shame for her. Borrwoing the jewel from Forestier is unlike Loisel.

2. Why didn't Forestier say, "But this is paste. Is it all right with you?" Maupassant intentionally hide the truth, for the sake of the last surprise. This is a dirty trick. 

3. When Loisel returned the neckless to Forestier, she said, "You should have returned it sooner, I might have  needed it." But Loisel had written to her that she was having the necklace mended. Therefore, Forestier's words sound too cold. Moreover, she had a lot of wonderful  jewels besides the necklace. She could have worn any one of them.

4. When Loisel happened to meet Forestier after ten years' interval, she 'accuses' her by saying, "... and that because of you!" But Forestier is not responsible for the hard work she underwent. The words "becasue of you!" is too harsh and pointless.