Assignment's End

Roger Dolphus AycockProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 44K words
Chapters: 5

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.Assignment's End by Roger D. AycockAuthor: Aycock, Roger D., 1914-2004,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 2, 2010

Editor's review

Assignment's End is a short science fiction work by Roger D. Aycock, a product of the mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazine tradition. The story revolves around a plan given the name "assignment," carrying the sense of setup and twist common to science fiction of that era: a scientific mission, human collaboration, and some unexpected ending interwoven together. As a public-domain ebook, it is short and easy to approach, suitable as a sample for understanding the style of early science fiction short stories. Its reading value lies not in a grand worldview but in its tight narrative pace and the ingenuity of its ending, allowing readers to experience a complete science fiction short story in a very short time. It suits fragmented reading time such as commuting or before bed, and is also suitable for science fiction fans comparing short story writing across different eras; those expecting lengthy, deep worldbuilding or character arcs may find it leaves them wanting more.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who like short science fiction and want to finish a complete story quickly
Fans interested in mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazine works
Learners who need English short story reading material of modest length
Readers who read in fragmented time such as commuting or before bed

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting lengthy worldbuilding and complex character growth arcs
Readers who prefer hard science fiction technical details or rigorous scientific extrapolation
Readers who need a Chinese translation and are not used to reading the English original

Reading tips

Read it through in one sitting first, then revisit the ending to appreciate the short story's twist design.
While reading, pay attention to how the "assignment" setup drives the characters' actions.
Compare it with other science fiction short stories of the same era to observe common themes and writing approaches.
English learners can excerpt common science fiction vocabulary appearing in short sentences.

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

Is this a novel or a short story?

Based on the information, it is a short work, not long, suitable for reading in one or two sittings. Readers should not expect novel-style buildup; the focus is on the compact progression and ending handling characteristic of short stories, making it suitable as a complete reading experience in fragmented time.

What kind of science fiction is the story?

It has the typical temperament of mid-twentieth-century American science fiction short stories, revolving around an assignment-style plan and leaning toward a combination of setup and twist rather than hard science fiction technical extrapolation. Readers can view it as a sample of the science fiction magazine style of that era, focusing on narrative pace and the ingenuity of the ending.

Is the English original difficult to read?

As a science fiction short story, the language is overall driven by narrative progression, and the sentences are not overly complex, but it may contain period expressions and science fiction terminology. Readers with basic English reading ability can finish it with a dictionary; if their English foundation is weaker, it is advisable to understand the story outline first before reading the original, to lower the difficulty of entry.

Is it suitable as an introductory science fiction read?

It can serve as a lightweight introduction to understanding the style of early science fiction short stories, being short and complete in structure without placing too much burden on readers. However, it is not a systematic science fiction history book; to build an overall understanding, it is advisable to read it alongside an overview of science fiction history or other representative short stories.

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About the author

Roger Dolphus Aycock Author · American · 1914–2004

Roger D. Aycock (1914–2004) was an American science fiction writer, born Roger Dolphus Aycock in Floyd County, Georgia, and best known by the pen name Roger Dee. He made his debut in 1949 with "The Wheel Is Death" and during the 1950s and 1960s wrote more than fifty short stories for magazines such as Galaxy and If. His work often centers on space exploration, encounters with alien worlds, and human dilemmas, with tight plotting and frequent twists at the end, combining popular entertainment with thoughtful speculation. His representative works include "Traders Risk," "Control Group," and "Assignment's End," and he also wrote the novel An Earth Gone Mad. Twelve of his works are held in the collection, including "The Feeling," "Pet Farm," and "Wailing Wall"; public information on his classification is limited, and his influence rests mainly on magazine science fiction of the later Golden Age.