The Wall Around the World

"The Wall Around the World" is a science fiction short story by American writer Theodore Cogswell.

Thirteen-year-old Porgie Mills, an orphan raised by his aunt and uncle, is fascinated by the impassable "wall around the world".

His schoolteacher, Mr Wickens, warns Porgie not to follow in the footsteps of his father, who dabbled in forbidden technology until the dreaded "Black Man" took him away.

While aloft, Porgie spots his bullying cousin "Bull Pup" flying below and takes the opportunity to taunt him.

[1][2] A 62nd World Science Fiction Convention (Noreascon 4) article praised the story: 1953 was also a year in which a number of underappreciated writers produced some very good work.

"The Wall Around the World" was originally published in the September 1953 issue of Beyond .