The Mighty Atom

Name: The Mighty Atom
Price: 43.07 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781304969897

✍️ Marie Corelli

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$43.07

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A gothic tale of a boy whose life unravels under his scientist father's rigid atheism.

Corelli explores the destructive power of absolute materialism through the lens of family dynamics. The text investigates how a parent's refusal to acknowledge anything beyond atoms can damage a child's development. It positions itself within the late nineteenth-century literary tradition, using the framework of supernatural fiction to critique scientific arrogance. The narrative does not rely on ghosts but on the haunting presence of ideological control. Readers will find a study of psychological manipulation and the consequences of denying spiritual reality.

Key Themes

scientific rationalism family trauma atheistic ideology

Literary Context

This 2014 Lulu.com edition revives Marie Corelli's work, placing it in the context of late Victorian literature that questioned the rise of scientific materialism. It appeals to modern readers interested in historical gothic fiction and the cultural debate between religion and science.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

M.R. James · Sheridan Le Fanu · Edith Wharton

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2014 📖 204 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781304969897

📝 Description: The Mighty Atom

Marie Corelli presents a narrative centered on a young boy raised by a father who demands the rejection of all religious and personal beliefs. The father, a scientist, seeks to propagate his own ideas, leading to significant turmoil in the child's life as it appears to unravel. Corelli examines the psychology behind this rigid materialism, contrasting it with irrational beliefs in nothingness but atoms. She portrays the minds of the father, mother, and teacher as grasping for a reality that does not exist. The story begins with innocent suspense before building toward shocking revelations. It draws on the tradition of psychological fiction to explore the antithesis of scientific rationalism when it becomes an absolute dogma. The narrative structure follows the boy's upbringing and the subsequent collapse of his world due to his father's influence. This work is suitable for readers interested in gothic themes and supernatural fiction that question the limits of science. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward horror or action-driven plots, as it focuses on intellectual and emotional conflict rather than external threats.

💎 Our verdict on The Mighty Atom

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Corelli crafts a disturbing examination of psychological manipulation disguised as a gothic tale. The narrative effectively uses the framework of supernatural fiction to critique scientific arrogance, positioning the father's rigid atheism as a haunting presence that unravels a young boy's life. While it lacks traditional ghosts, the ideological control creates a chilling atmosphere of emotional and intellectual conflict. The work succeeds in portraying the minds of its characters grasping for non-existent realities, offering a sharp contrast between irrational beliefs and absolute materialism. It suits readers who prefer subtle horror rooted in family dynamics and psychological tension over visceral scares or straightforward plot resolutions.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in gothic themes and the intersection of psychology and ideology will find this narrative compelling. It offers a profound study of psychological manipulation, examining how absolute materialism can damage a child's development through ideological control rather than supernatural ghosts. Those who appreciate intellectual conflict over external threats or action-driven plots will value its exploration of scientific rationalism as an absolute dogma. The book serves as a critique of parental authority and the consequences of denying spiritual reality, providing a haunting look at family dynamics. It is ideal for audiences seeking horror that questions the limits of science and delves into the destructive power of rigid atheism within domestic settings.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Corelli crafts a disturbing examination of psychological manipulation disguised as a gothic tale. The narrative effectively uses the framework of supernatural fiction to critique scientific arrogance, positioning the father's rigid atheism as a haunting presence that unravels a young boy's life. While it lacks traditional ghosts, the ideological control creates a chilling atmosphere of emotional and intellectual conflict. The work succeeds in portraying the minds of its characters grasping for non-existent realities, offering a sharp contrast between irrational beliefs and absolute materialism. It suits readers who prefer subtle horror rooted in family dynamics and psychological tension over visceral scares or straightforward plot resolutions.