The story in one page
Four individuals trapped in a Kendall Building elevator experience a sudden, unexplainable displacement. The floor drops away, leaving them stranded in a landscape where the grass and sky are terrifyingly oversized. A gargantuan hand snatches them up one by one, depositing the group into a room that functions as a giant, ribbon-topped box. Fleming Carter, the group's most observant member, explains their grim reality: they have been purchased as a gift for a giant. As his companions descend into despair, Carter reveals a twist about his own involvement, claiming the role of the recipient as he begins to grow.
Who's who
- Fleming Carter
An observant intellectual who masters the situation.
- Peggy Wilson
A fearful woman seeking constant reassurance from others.
- Wilmer Payton
A man who assumes the role of protector for Peggy.
- Walter Maltby
A timid man worried about missing his television schedule.
What it's really about
- Dependency
- Characters define themselves through the needs of others.
- Scale
- The shift from office life to a giant's perspective.
Why it's memorable
- A giant hand descends from the blue sky to scoop up terrified humans.
- An oversized greeting card written for a giant's birthday celebration.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Carter reveals he arranged for his own kidnapping and starts to grow to giant size to accept his gift.
For your book club
- Is Carter a genius or just a collector of people?
- Why does the elevator ride end in such a specific domestic chore?