# Looking for Sci Fi short story
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 6, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620 "2012-01-06T13:47:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@spydieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spydieman)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/1 "2012-01-06T13:47:21Z")
Hey all,
Trying to find a short story I read years ago. It’s driving me crazy. :smack:
Premise:
Guy reads an ad in newspaper…can’t remember how worded but he goes to office location (hole in the wall). Guy explains taking people to another world. Has to abandon all possessions to go. Some have quite a bit and some have nothing. Doesn’t matter.
Man’s dubious but ultimately decides to try. (Can’t remember how convinced). Anyways he show’s up at warehouse where transport is to occur. Many others are there. They are told the **must** remain there inside until transport or they forfeit.
Group waits and waits. Man starts to think he’s been taken and steps out through the door (overhead like garage door). As soon as he does door starts to close. As door is closing he can see everything going foggy inside. He can hear sounds of people on destination world all happy and enjoying themselves…smells are great, etc.
He tries to grab door but it shuts as everyone is transported. Warehouse is empty. He knows he missed out. Searches and searches for office and man at desk but everything’s gone. ☹
Hope someone’s read this one.
---
### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/2 "2012-01-06T13:53:03Z")
This post belongs in Cafe Society; you are more likely to get an answer there too. I’ll report it for you.
As for the story; it sounds vaguely familiar, but that’s all I’ve got. And welcome to the SDMB!
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/3 "2012-01-06T13:54:19Z")
> [@spydieman](#):
>
> Hey all,
>
> Trying to find a short story I read years ago. It’s driving me crazy. :smack:
>
> Premise:
>
> Guy reads an ad in newspaper…can’t remember how worded but he goes to office location (hole in the wall). Guy explains taking people to another world. Has to abandon all possessions to go. Some have quite a bit and some have nothing. Doesn’t matter.
>
> Man’s dubious but ultimately decides to try. (Can’t remember how convinced). Anyways he show’s up at warehouse where transport is to occur. Many others are there. They are told the **must** remain there inside until transport or they forfeit.
>
> Group waits and waits. Man starts to think he’s been taken and steps out through the door (overhead like garage door). As soon as he does door starts to close. As door is closing he can see everything going foggy inside. He can hear sounds of people on destination world all happy and enjoying themselves…smells are great, etc.
>
> He tries to grab door but it shuts as everyone is transported. Warehouse is empty. He knows he missed out. Searches and searches for office and man at desk but everything’s gone. ☹
>
> Hope someone’s read this one.
never mind - thought I had it, but was wrong
---
### Author:  [@spydieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spydieman)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/4 "2012-01-06T14:12:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> This post belongs in Cafe Society; you are more likely to get an answer there too. I’ll report it for you.
>
> As for the story; it sounds vaguely familiar, but that’s all I’ve got. And welcome to the SDMB!
Thanks for the direction. Obviously I’m a newbie here.😃
---
### Author:  [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/5 "2012-01-06T14:45:13Z")
I think I read this story if the ‘other world’ was actually in our universe and the transportation was teleportation to another planet. It started with a guy reading a phamplet about living on another world and he was fascinated by the picture of a family having breakfast in a park.
If that is it, sorry…cannot remember the name or author.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/6 "2012-01-06T14:48:20Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> never mind - thought I had it, but was wrong
“Of Missing Persons” by Jack Finney - described here [Andy's Anachronisms -- About Time by Jack Finney (Book Review)](http://www.timetravelreviews.com/shorts/about_time.html)
---
### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/7 "2012-01-06T15:04:24Z")
Moved to Cafe Society.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
---
### Author:  [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/8 "2012-01-07T15:14:02Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> “Of Missing Persons” by Jack Finney - described here [Andy's Anachronisms -- About Time by Jack Finney (Book Review)](http://www.timetravelreviews.com/shorts/about_time.html)
That sounds what I was thinking of…especially since the other stories seem familiar as well which means I probably read that book as a kid.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/9 "2012-01-07T22:11:06Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> “Of Missing Persons” by Jack Finney - described here [Andy's Anachronisms -- About Time by Jack Finney (Book Review)](http://www.timetravelreviews.com/shorts/about_time.html)
Jack Finney is the master of the time travel story. I once chose “The Third Level” to read at a short story party.
It’s a really fun, really short read with…
[SPOILER] a great twist at the end.
… What? It’s more fun if you find out yourself![/SPOILER]
---
### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-sci-fi-short-story/608620/10 "2012-01-07T22:20:32Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> Jack Finney is the master of the time travel story. I once chose “The Third Level” to read at a short story party.
I really like his stories too - “I’m Scared” is another good one.