Abbr.

Riley, Frank, 1915-1996Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.2

Word count: 111K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Abbr. by Frank RileyAuthor: Riley, Frank, 1915-1996,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 11, 2019

Editor's review

Frank Riley's "Abbr." is a short English-language work available in the Project Gutenberg ebook library. Judging from the abbreviated form of the title and the author's activity in the mid-twentieth century, the piece has the narrative feel of science fiction or popular fiction; it is brief and suited to a single sitting. Its reading value lies in presenting a complete concept or situation within a compact span, letting readers see in a short time how the author builds suspense and turns with limited words. For readers curious about mid-twentieth-century English popular short fiction, it is a lightweight sample. Because the available material provides only bibliographic information, the specific plot and themes must be confirmed by reading the text. It is best treated as a short reading exercise: notice how the opening moves quickly into the situation and how the ending pulls things together. The electronic edition is easy to obtain and suits commutes or fragmented reading time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to read an English short story in fragmented time
Readers interested in mid-twentieth-century English popular fiction
Learners who need a short English text for reading practice

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long, complex narratives and deep character development
Readers who need detailed author biography and background information
Beginners unaccustomed to reading English originals

Reading tips

Read it through in one sitting first, then revisit the opening and ending to appreciate the short-story structure.
While reading, pay attention to how the title "Abbr." echoes the main text.
If using it for English study, excerpt three to five sentences worth imitating and write paraphrases.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What language is this work in? Is it long?

According to the available information, the book is in English and is an ebook released by Project Gutenberg. As a short work, it is generally brief and suited to a single sitting, but the exact word count should be based on the actual text.

What does the title "Abbr." mean?

"Abbr." is usually the abbreviated form of the English word abbreviation. The title may point to abbreviated usage in the text or to some narrative compression; its specific meaning must be judged by reading the main text, as the available material provides no plot description.

Is this edition suitable for English learners?

This edition is an English-original ebook without notes or a glossary. Learners with intermediate English reading ability can try it, preferably with a dictionary; beginners may need supplementary materials.

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About the author

Riley, Frank, 1915-1996 Author

Frank Riley (1915–1996) was an American science fiction writer, though public information about him is limited. Active in the mid-twentieth century, he has five works collected here: Project Hi-Psi, The Executioner, Bright Islands, The Cyber and Justice Holmes, and Abbr. Judging from these titles, Riley worked mainly in short fiction, developing science fiction premises around future technological projects, the law, and cybernetics. His prose is concise, with an emphasis on plot momentum and conceptual play, typical of the popular science fiction magazines of the period. The Cyber and Justice Holmes in particular is often noted for its interest in the boundary between technology, law, and human nature. Because biographical and critical sources are scarce, his full profile remains to be explored, yet the existing works already reveal a popular writer who left his mark on the golden age of science fiction.