Bolden's Pets

Floyd Lee WallaceProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 39K words
Chapters: 4

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.Bolden's Pets by F. L. WallaceAuthor: Wallace, F. L. (Floyd L.), 1915-2004,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Mar 31, 2009

Editor's review

This is a short work by science fiction writer F. L. Wallace published in the mid-twentieth century and reissued by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain electronic text. The story revolves around "Bolden's Pets" and is a typical early science fiction short story: simple setup, fast pacing, often posing a slightly absurd or ironic premise within limited length and closing with a twist. Its value lies not in a grand worldview but in presenting the narrative rhythm and imaginative appeal of short fiction in that era's science fiction magazines, making it a good sample for understanding the American science fiction short story tradition. While reading, note how the author handles the relationship between people and "pets," and how the technological premise serves the plot twist. Because the text is old, some attitudes and expressions bear the marks of their time; readers can appreciate it as popular literature in historical context rather than judging it by contemporary standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy early British and American science fiction short stories and seek a quick reading experience.
Researchers or enthusiasts who want to understand the style of mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazines.
English learners needing a short English public-domain text for reading practice.
General readers interested in light science fiction themes such as human-animal relations and technological ethics.

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long-form hard science fiction or tightly constructed worldbuilding.
Readers expecting complex character development and deep social critique in contemporary science fiction.
Readers sensitive to the limitations of early popular literature.

Reading tips

Read the short story in one sitting, grasp the plot twist first, then go back to savor the irony in the premise.
While reading, note how the author uses the "pet" image to create suspense and contrast with the ending.
Read alongside other science fiction short stories of the same period to observe common formulas of early magazine science fiction.
For English practice, read through first and look up new words afterward, avoiding frequent interruptions to the narrative rhythm.

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 story hard science fiction or soft science fiction?

Judging by length and approach, it is closer to popular short fiction built around a premise and a twist rather than hard science fiction emphasizing technical rigor. Readers should not expect complex scientific extrapolation; the focus is on how the author uses a simple science fiction premise to create dramatic effect. Reading it as an entertaining sample of early magazine science fiction will make for a smoother experience.

Can I understand it without a science fiction reading background?

Yes. The short story is limited in length and moves directly, without requiring prior knowledge of a vast science fiction framework. Readers need only follow the narrative thread; if they encounter earlier English expressions or period background, a dictionary and brief reference materials can help. The overall barrier is low.

Is the Gutenberg edition suitable for citation or research?

The Gutenberg edition is easy to obtain and read through, suitable for general reading and initial understanding, but it usually contains no modern academic annotations, textual collation, or author research materials. For formal paper citation, check the original publication information and consult authoritative editions; as an accessible and free entry point for understanding the work's content, it is a convenient choice.

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About the author

Floyd Lee Wallace Author · American · 1915–2004

F. L. Wallace (Floyd Lee Wallace, 1915–2004) was an American science fiction and mystery writer and a mechanical engineer. He was born in 1915 in Rock Island, Illinois, and died in 2004 in Tustin, California. From the 1950s onward he wrote short stories for science fiction magazines such as Galaxy as well as novels. Thirteen of his works are held in this collection, including Delay in Transit, The Man Who Was Six, End as a World, Forget Me Nearly, Address: Centauri, Student Body, Bolden's Pets and Accidental Flight. His writing often starts from the practical details of engineering and technology, combining precise speculation with suspense and reversal, and his subjects frequently involve space travel, mistaken identity and sudden crises. Public information about his life and career is limited, and readers' knowledge of him and his work still rests mainly on these short stories and novels scattered across various publications.