Dogfight—1973

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

3.2

Word count: 5.6K words
Chapters: 1

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.Dogfight—1973 by Mack ReynoldsAuthor: Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 8, 2009

Editor's review

This work is a science fiction short story by Mack Reynolds published in the mid-twentieth century. It uses the highly confrontational scenario of "dogfight" to unfold its narrative, carrying his customary social satire and inquiry into the relationship between technology and war. As a free electronic text from Project Gutenberg, it has a low barrier to access and is suitable as a sample for understanding the appearance of American science fiction short stories in the later Golden Age: short in length, fast in plot progression, and distinct in conceptual awareness. Its reading value lies not in grand epic but in observing how the author uses genre fiction to handle conflict, rules, and human nature issues. It is suitable for reading in one sitting during fragmented time such as commuting or before bed, and also suitable for science fiction fans as supplementary reading for thematic reading. Note that the text is the original English version, and the book was written relatively early, so some technological imagination and expressive habits are distant from contemporary readers. It is recommended to read it from the perspective of genre history rather than measuring it by current hard science fiction standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers who want low-cost access to classic American science fiction short stories
Enthusiasts interested in mid-twentieth-century science fiction and social satire themes
Advanced learners who need short original English materials for reading practice
Readers studying the writing patterns and theme evolution of early science fiction magazines

Not a good fit for

Deep science fiction readers expecting long-form worldbuilding and complex character arcs
Beginners not yet proficient in English reading who need a Chinese translation for assistance
Readers lacking patience for early science fiction technological settings and narrative pacing

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the plot, then revisit the author's setup of conflict rules and the target of satire
Read it alongside contemporary science fiction short stories, noting commonalities and differences in themes and writing methods
When encountering unfamiliar military or technical vocabulary, there is no need to look up every word; prioritize maintaining reading fluency

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?

Judging from the Project Gutenberg inclusion information, it is a relatively short science fiction story, suitable for finishing in one or two sittings. The specific page count varies with the layout of the electronic edition; it is advisable to rely on the actual text length after opening it.

Can I read it if my English is not good?

The original text is in English, and the book was written relatively early, so some expressions and military terminology are difficult for beginners. If your English reading is not yet proficient, you can first try reading the beginning with dictionary tools, or choose similar works with translations as a transition.

Do I need to know the author's other works first?

No. This is a standalone short story and does not depend on prior context from the author's other works. If after reading you are interested in Mack Reynolds's writing style, you can then expand your reading to his other short stories.

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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.