Ask a Foolish Question

Robert SheckleyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 17K words
Chapters: 2

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.Ask a Foolish Question by Robert SheckleyAuthor: Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 11, 2010

Editor's review

Robert Sheckley's short story Ask a Foolish Question is a quintessential science-fiction satire, a fable that turns on the act of asking itself. From a light-footed premise it lays bare the limits and arrogance of human cognition: when the answer lies right before our eyes, what truly decides the outcome is whether the question is asked correctly. Sheckley excels at driving absurd situations through ordinary conversation; the piece is brief yet lingers long after, often closing on a turn that sends you back to reread. As a public-domain ebook, it suits a single sitting on a commute or lunch break, and works well as a short model for science-fiction writing or English reading. Don't come to it expecting a grand worldbuilding; its value lies in that humor of "getting it wrong" and its cool philosophical sting. If you've read Sheckley works like The Tenth Level of Hell, you'll recognize his knack for packaging metaphysics as a joke.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and satirical fables
People who want a complete short story in English during spare moments
Readers interested in epistemology and the art of asking questions
Science-fiction writers looking for a model of short-story structure

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long-form hard SF and complex worldbuilding
Readers expecting action scenes and strong plot momentum
Beginners in English reading who need annotated support

Reading tips

Read straight through the first time for the twist; on the second pass, trace how questions and answers correspond.
After reading, try retelling in your own words what the "foolish question" refers to, to test your understanding.
Compare with other Sheckley stories to observe his habitual ironic endings.
English learners can excerpt the dialogue lines to feel the rhythm of colloquial narration.

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 is this story roughly about, and do I need background first?

It's a science-fiction satire built around "asking questions," and requires no prior knowledge of specific science or history. The story moves through dialogue and premise, so you can read it directly; afterward, consider whose questioning the title's "foolish question" really refers to.

How difficult is the English, and is it suitable for language learning?

It's moderately easy narrative English with short sentences and mostly dialogue, suitable for learners with some foundation. But it's literature, not a textbook; slang and irony need contextual understanding, so read through first and look up words afterward.

Why do you recommend reading it once and then going back?

Sheckley's stories often overturn earlier meanings at the end; the first read is for plot, the second lets you see the mismatch between question and answer. On rereading, note the character's initial framing of the question—you'll find the satirical point was planted early.

Is this a complete novel or a short story?

According to the source, it is a short story by Robert Sheckley, released as a public-domain ebook, suited to reading in one sitting. Don't approach it as a novel; its focus is the speculative aftertaste of the ending.

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About the author

Robert Sheckley Author · United States · 1928–2005

Robert Sheckley (1928–2005) was an American science fiction writer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1928, he served with the U.S. military in Korea and later graduated from New York University. He published his first story in 1952 and became known for witty, absurd, and satirical short stories and novels. His work often explores civilization, desire, and the dilemmas brought by technology in an ironic tone, with ingenious plots and often surprising endings. His representative works include Warm, Watchbird, The Status Civilization, Keep Your Shape, Ask a Foolish Question, Cost of Living, Death Wish, and Forever. The library holds 18 of his works. He received the Nebula Award Grand Master title in 2000 and died in 2005. Public information is limited, but his distinctive humor and satire have earned wide attention in the science fiction field.