looking for a science fiction short story which I read years ago

[shoemad]

I can't remember the author or title I'm afraid but it was quite intriguing and has stuck in my memory.
A man was in a store and on the down escalator. He wasn't paying much attention and at each floor he hopped onto the next down escalator. Eventually he realised that there were no other people around and also no 'up' escalator. Then I can't remember the end!
Does this ring any bells with anyone??

[Zulu]

I might be wrong but that sounds a bit like 'The Langoliers', a short story by Stephen King published in a book called, 'Four Past Midnight'.

[paddywak]

I dont think its the longoliers, thats the one on the plane, where a guy wakes up and finds everybody but the people who had been asleep like him had disapeared.

[mandimoo]

the version am thinking of is someone going down in a lift (or elevator, very close to escalator!), but im darned if i can actually remember where its from. perhaps as you say from a book of short stories.... do these ring any bells?... someone exploring a spiral staircase inside a large brick chimney or similar, turns round to go back and the stairs just descend and descend for eternity with no way out... or the person writing a story about a plant of some kind thats growing out of control and strangling everything in its path. writer has locked himself away but knows the plant is growing toward him. when it finally gets him the story just stops mid sentence. maybe all from same book?

[sophie_1003]

http://forums.abebooks.co.uk/abesleuthuk

this website is very good for finding long lost books, just enter as many details as you remember and the chances are somebody will be able to enlighten you!

[shoemad]

Thank you all for your replies.
I'll certainly give the website a try.
it's years since I read the story but it stuck in my mind.
I might try to track down the Stephen King story as that sounds interesting.
Thanks again all of you.

[viclyn]

the story is the third level by jack finney

[brookerrj]

I can't believe that I just happened to be looking for this story today when I came across this thread. I probably read it about 30 years ago and it really stuck in my mind and I do remember the ending.

It is 'Descending' by Thomas M. Disch.

In fact I discovered that the whole story is available on the web here at:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/class ics_archive/disch/disch1.html

Hope that helps.

[shoemad]

This is the one!!!!
Thank you - you are a star******