"They were immigrants into the sea; like all immigrants they longed for the Old Country. Then the second generation. Like all second generations they had no patience with the old people or their tales. This was real, this sea, this gale, this rope! Then the third generation. Like all third generations it felt a sudden desperate hollowness and lack of identity. What was real? Who are we? What is NEMET which we have lost? But by then grandfather and grandmother could only mumble vaguely; the cultural heritage was gone, squandered in three generations, spent forever. As always, the fourth generation did not care."
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Science fiction authors from the United StatesNovelists from the United StatesShort story writers from the United StatesJews from the United StatesPeople from New York City
Original Language: English
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Sources
Shark Ship (p. 155; NEMET = “Northeastern Metropolitan Area”)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cyril_M._Kornbluth
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Cyril M. Kornbluth
Cyril M. Kornbluth (July 2, 1923 – March 21, 1958) was an American science fiction author.
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