Breakdown

Breakdown is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s by Herbert D. Kastle. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it follows Harry Burr, a farmer who experiences memory lapses and confusion about his family amidst a society in turmoil. As he navigates bizarre encounters and struggles with his sanity, he uncovers that his life is part of an artificial reality created by a scientist preserving survivors. The novella explores themes of memory, identity, and the human psyche in the face of societal collapse.