Combat

Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 105K 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.Combat by Mack ReynoldsAuthor: Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 19, 2009

Editor's review

"Combat" is a short science fiction work by Mack Reynolds, made available as a free public-domain eBook by Project Gutenberg. Reynolds was active in mid-twentieth-century American pulp science fiction magazines, and his work often uses brisk, direct storytelling to explore war, institutions, and human nature; this piece, judging by its title, continues that focus. Its value lies in its brevity and tightness, letting readers quickly experience the pacing and concerns of Golden Age magazine science fiction; as a public-domain text it is also useful for studying how early science fiction handled conflict and violence. Lacking a modern introduction and notes, the specific plot and setting must be grasped by the reader; it suits science fiction fans as light reading or as supplementary material for a genre literature course, and one should not expect lengthy world-building or deep character development.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in mid-twentieth-century American pulp science fiction
Fans wanting a short piece to quickly sample Golden Age science fiction style
Students needing a public-domain English short story as reading or research material

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long, grand world-building and complex character arcs
Beginners who find English reading difficult and need annotated support
Readers expecting modern science fiction technology and cutting-edge ideas

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then revisit how the title echoes the ending
While reading, note how the author handles war and individual choice
If using it for a course or writing reference, record its narrative pacing and turning points
After finishing, look up other Reynolds short stories to compare and sense his stylistic commonalities

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 novel roughly about?

The material provides no plot summary and confirms only that it is a short work by Reynolds. Reading the original text is recommended; the title "Combat" suggests a theme of conflict or battle, but the specific setting should be based on the text.

Is it suitable for science fiction beginners?

It is short with relatively plain language, so it can serve as a beginner's attempt, but it is mid-century magazine science fiction whose ideas and style differ considerably from contemporary works and may not match new readers' expectations of science fiction; reading it with a historical perspective is advised.

Why recommend reading the public-domain eBook edition?

The Project Gutenberg edition is free and easy to obtain, suitable for low-cost trial reading and classroom distribution. Its drawback is the lack of an editor's introduction and notes; deeper analysis of the writing background requires separately looking up information on the author and era.

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About the author

Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983 Author

Mack Reynolds (1917–1983) was an American science fiction writer, born Dallas McCord Reynolds. Because public information is limited, no speculation is made here about his early life or education. The collection holds twenty-five of his works, including I’m a Stranger Here Myself, The Common Man, Happy Ending, Dogfight—1973, Black Man’s Burden, Off Course, Summit, and Ultima Thule. These titles suggest that he excelled at short stories and novellas, often addressing social issues, race relations, political conflict, and future warfare. His titles are frequently blunt and ironic, his narratives tight, and he makes effective use of suspense and reversal to discuss real-world problems within the framework of popular science fiction. His work appeared mainly in mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazines and has had some influence on later socially engaged science fiction.