Bear Trap

Nourse, Alan Edward, 1928-1992Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 110K words
Chapters: 11

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. Bear Trap by Alan Edward Nourse. Author: Nourse, Alan Edward, 1928–1992. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Jan 26, 2010

Editor's review

Bear Trap is a short science fiction work by Alan E. Nourse, available as a public-domain electronic text through Project Gutenberg. Nourse had a medical background, and his science fiction often revolves around technology, physiology, and ethics; this story likewise follows the pattern of using a premise to drive suspense: an apparently ordinary situation gradually reveals unusual rules, and readers discover the truth alongside the characters. It is short and tightly paced, making it a good sample of mid-twentieth-century American short science fiction. It offers the pleasure of concept and twist rather than a large cast or an expansive world. Readers who want a complete science fiction story in spare moments will find it suitable; those expecting deep character portrayal or a long epic may find it thin. Approach it with an open mind and enjoy its period flavor.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and want a complete story in fragmented time such as a commute
Beginning readers interested in mid-twentieth-century American short science fiction
Learners who need English science fiction shorts as extensive reading material
Readers who prefer premise- and suspense-driven stories and do not mind a short length

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a long, expansive world and complex character arcs
Those uncomfortable with the technological premises and narrative pace of early science fiction
Readers who need a Chinese translation and are not reading the English original for now

Reading tips

Read it through in one sitting first, then go back over the premise, so that looking things up does not interrupt the suspense.
After finishing, write down the story's core premise and turning point to check your understanding.
Read it alongside other short science fiction from the same period to sense the thematic preferences of the time.
When reading in English, mark unfamiliar technical terms and look them up together after finishing the whole story.

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

How long is this story?

It is a short story, usually readable in one or two sittings. It suits commuting, lunch breaks, and other fragmented time, read in one go to preserve the complete experience of suspense. Exact page count varies with layout and edition; for the electronic version, the actual text is the reference.

Can I understand it without a background in science fiction?

Generally yes. The story advances through its premise and plot and does not depend on extensive prior knowledge. If you meet unfamiliar technical terms, first understand their role from context; there is no need to investigate each one, and reviewing after finishing will make things clearer.

Does the author's medical background help with reading?

It can serve as background reference. Nourse had medical training, and his science fiction often involves physiological, technological, and ethical premises. Knowing this helps in appreciating the story's attention to the consequences of technology, but do not use it to predict the plot.

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About the author

Nourse, Alan Edward, 1928-1992 Author

Alan Edward Nourse (1928-1992) is a science fiction author with 24 works held in this collection, though public information about him is limited and biographical details remain to be filled in. Judging from the available titles, he wrote both novels and short stories, often centering on space exploration, medical ethics, and the risks of technology: titles such as Star Surgeon and Brightside Crossing suggest an interest in the intersection of interstellar travel and surgery, while An Ounce of Cure, Consignment, and Marley's Chain reveal a cool scrutiny of technological consequences. He was skilled at carrying speculation through tight plotting, placing ordinary people in extreme situations and using professional detail to heighten realism. Some short pieces, such as Meeting of the Board, adopt a satirical tone, showing that his style was not monolithic. His work had some influence among mid-twentieth-century English-language science fiction readers, but details of awards and sales cannot be verified and are therefore not speculated upon.