The Octopus by Ben Loory

“The Octopus” is a 2009 science fiction short story by Ben Loory. It is about an octopus who moves out of the ocean to live in the city.

Another Cool Million Writers Award Story

This was the first story I chose to read for the Million Writers Award this year. I read it first because I have always been intrigued by octopuses, and I just couldn’t restrain my curiosity about this one. Strangely enough, it was unlike any other octopus story I have ever read – it didn’t even take place in the ocean. The feeling portrayed in this story, however, very much reminded me of when Lucy met Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – and that was very cool indeed!

Non-spoiler Summary in a Nutshell

Harley the octopus moved out the ocean and has now lived in the city for many years. Being a land-lubber is different, but there are many strange treasures to keep him occupied. One day he receives a letter from two of his nephews asking if they can visit him, and when they show up Harley is reminded of some feelings he hasn’t felt in a very long time.

Interesting Tidbits About This Story:

• Page Count: 8
• Word Count: 2,150
• Did you know that Ben Loory holds an MFA from the American Film Institute? Yep. You can learn more about this very creative author on his web site.

Where You Can Find The Octopus:

• This story was originally published on July 23, 2009 in the online magazine of humor and silliness: Girls with Insurance – where you can still read it for free.

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