Such Interesting Neighbors

Such Interesting Neighbors is a science fiction short story by Jack Finney, first published in 1951. Adapted versions of the story for television aired as episodes of Science Fiction Theatre and Amazing Stories.

Plot summary

The story deals with the narrative of Al and Nell Lewis encounters with their new neighbors the Hellenbecks. As the plot progresses, the Hellenbecks' interactive manners and general behavior puzzle Al Lewis, who seeks to uncover the cause of their uncommon ways. Towards the end of the story it is revealed that the Hellenbecks are time travellers from a future era. As their world was in the brink of global war, inexpensive time machines became available for the general public to cause a diversion from the extremely unfavorable conditions. However, much of the population including the Hellenbecks used them to settle in past eras and caused severe depopulation, which made the waging of war impossible, while eventually the remaining population migrated as well.^[1]

Adaptations

Such Interesting Neighbors was first adapted for Science Fiction Theatre and aired as its second episode on April 16, 1955 as Time is Just a Place. On March 20, 1987, a second adaptation of the story under its original title for Amazing Stories aired.^[2]

Sources