Diplomatic Immunity

Robert SheckleyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

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.Diplomatic Immunity by Robert SheckleyAuthor: Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 18, 2010

Editor's review

Robert Sheckley's short works are known for their witty premises and sharp satire, and Diplomatic Immunity is a typical example of this style. The story builds its imagination around the real-world institution of diplomatic immunity, pushing legal privilege to an absurd extreme and, within a light narrative pace, raising questions about rules, identity, and responsibility. Its strength lies not in a complex plot but in using a simple assumption to prod readers into thinking about institutional inertia; reading it often brings both a knowing smile and a slight unease. As a public-domain ebook, it is short and easy to get into, making it ideal for reading in one sitting during a commute or in spare moments, and also suitable as a sample for discussions of short science fiction writing and satirical literature. While reading, note how the author uses everyday language to create a sense of the unfamiliar, and the restraint of the open ending.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and prefer witty satire over hard-edged worldbuilding
Newcomers who want to understand Sheckley's writing style through a short text
General readers interested in institutions, rules, and privilege
Teachers and organizers who need short fiction material for classes or book clubs

Not a good fit for

Hard science fiction readers expecting long-form worldbuilding and complex technological premises
Readers who prefer serious, heavy themes and have no interest in light satire

Reading tips

Read through once for the rhythm, then revisit the opening setup to appreciate where the satire lands.
After reading, write down the real-world institution that corresponds to “diplomatic immunity” and use it for a comparative reflection.
Best read alongside other Sheckley short stories to observe his habitual use of reversal.

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 book a novel or a short story?

According to the Project Gutenberg entry, this is a short story by Sheckley. It is fairly short and can be read in one sitting or two, so there is no need to plan reading time as you would for a novel.

How difficult is the English? Is it suitable for non-native readers?

The language is mostly everyday narrative, and the sentences are not complex. Readers with intermediate English can finish it with the help of a dictionary. It is advisable to sample a few paragraphs of the ebook first to see whether the vocabulary and style suit you.

Do I need to understand diplomatic immunity first?

No specialized background is needed. The story itself makes the relevant concepts clear; readers only need the common knowledge that diplomats may, in certain circumstances, be exempt from local jurisdiction to follow the plot.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

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.