The Vanishing of the Gardner Family

The Colour Out of Space

This flow follows each stage of the Gardner household’s deterioration as a mysterious force isolates, consumes, and finally destroys the family.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Secure Farm Life A Secure Farm Life from "The Colour Out of Space". A Family at Home Ordinary Prosperity Nahum Gardner lives with his wife and three sons on a productive farm and remains close to neighbour Ammi Pierce.

A Secure Farm Life from "The Colour Out of Space". A Family at Home Ordinary Prosperity Nahum Gardner lives with his wife and three sons on a productive farm and remains close to neighbour Ammi Pierce.

A Family at Home Ordinary Prosperity Nahum Gardner lives with his wife and three sons on a productive farm and remains close to neighbour Ammi Pierce. A Sudden Intrusion The meteorite strikes the property and changes the conditions under which their ordinary life can continue.

The Household Weakens The Household Weakens from "The Colour Out of Space". Unease Takes Hold Changing Habits The family becomes quiet and withdrawn as the farm’s crops, animals, and local surroundings grow abnormal.

The Household Weakens from "The Colour Out of Space". Unease Takes Hold Changing Habits The family becomes quiet and withdrawn as the farm’s crops, animals, and local surroundings grow abnormal.

Unease Takes Hold Changing Habits The family becomes quiet and withdrawn as the farm’s crops, animals, and local surroundings grow abnormal. Children Under Strain Thaddeus is especially sensitive to the danger, while the parents struggle to interpret signs no one can explain.

Madness and Captivity Madness and Captivity from "The Colour Out of Space". The Family Fractures Nabby's Decline Nabby becomes incoherent and is confined to the attic as her condition worsens.

Madness and Captivity from "The Colour Out of Space". The Family Fractures Nabby's Decline Nabby becomes incoherent and is confined to the attic as her condition worsens.

The Family Fractures Nabby's Decline Nabby becomes incoherent and is confined to the attic as her condition worsens. Thaddeus Follows Thaddeus also descends into madness after visiting the well, leaving the household divided by locked doors and fear.

The Sons Disappear The Sons Disappear from "The Colour Out of Space". Loss at the Well Merwin Is Lost Merwin goes to draw water and vanishes, leaving behind a damaged lantern and pail.

The Sons Disappear from "The Colour Out of Space". Loss at the Well Merwin Is Lost Merwin goes to draw water and vanishes, leaving behind a damaged lantern and pail.

Loss at the Well Merwin Is Lost Merwin goes to draw water and vanishes, leaving behind a damaged lantern and pail. Zenas Follows Nahum later speaks of Zenas as living in the well, suggesting the same force has taken another son.

The Last Survivors The Last Survivors from "The Colour Out of Space". A Household Ends Nahum's Final Account Ammi finds Nahum mentally broken and Nabby dead or transformed beyond ordinary recognition.

The Last Survivors from "The Colour Out of Space". A Household Ends Nahum's Final Account Ammi finds Nahum mentally broken and Nabby dead or transformed beyond ordinary recognition.

A Household Ends Nahum's Final Account Ammi finds Nahum mentally broken and Nabby dead or transformed beyond ordinary recognition. No Family Remains The household’s living members are gone, and the farm becomes a place of ruin and enduring fear.

Before June 1882

Winter 1882–spring 1883

Summer to autumn 1883

Autumn 1883

Late 1883