Homesick

Lyn VenableProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 14K words
Chapters: 2

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.Homesick by Lyn VenableAuthor: Venable, Lyn,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Aug 3, 2009

Editor's review

Homesick is a short work by Lyn Venable available through Project Gutenberg and classified under American and Canadian literature. Its title points to homesickness and belonging, themes often used in short science fiction to create contrast: everyday emotions amplified or distorted in an unfamiliar setting. The Gutenberg edition is the original English text, with no introduction or notes, so readers must enter the context on their own. Its value lies in its brevity and low barrier to entry; it works well as an introduction to English extensive reading or thematic reading, and as a short text for discussions of home and foreignness. Given limited information, its plot should not be presumed; reading it as a short piece that can be finished quickly and lingers in the mind will be more directly rewarding.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in short fiction on homesickness and belonging
Learners looking for light English short fiction for extensive reading practice
Book club members who need a short text for thematic discussion
Readers with fragmented time who prefer to finish in one sitting rather than commit to a long work

Not a good fit for

Readers who need a Chinese translation or detailed background introduction
Readers expecting a full-length plot and character arcs
Readers impatient with the pacing of early short narrative

Reading tips

Before reading, think about what home means to you and enter the story with that reference point.
Read for plot the first time; on the second pass, notice how setting descriptions heighten the mood.
After finishing, write one or two sentences about a real experience the story reminded you of.
If hosting a book club, set a discussion question around whether homesickness is emotion or memory.

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 work science fiction or pure literature?

Project Gutenberg classifies it only under American and Canadian literature, without a specific subgenre. Judging by the title and short form, it may present emotional themes through an unfamiliar situation. It is best not to presume the genre and to read the text itself.

How difficult is the English? Is it suitable for beginners?

As an early short story, the language is usually not difficult, but there are no notes or translation. Readers with some English reading ability can try it; complete beginners should first read through for the gist with a dictionary, then examine the sentences closely.

Do I need to know about the author Lyn Venable before reading?

Not necessarily. The available information provides no detailed biography, and this piece can be read independently. If you are interested afterward, you can look up the author's other works in Project Gutenberg and compare themes and style.

Is it suitable for book club discussion?

Yes. It is short enough for members to read in advance and discuss homesickness, belonging, and unfamiliar settings. Pairing it with a Chinese short story on the same theme can lower the barrier to discussion.

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About the author

Lyn Venable Author · American · 1927–2025

Lyn Venable (1927–2025) was an American science fiction writer whose real name was Marilyn Venable, born in New Jersey. Her work centered on short science fiction, and her output was small, with three titles held in this catalog. Her best-known story, "Time Enough at Last," published in 1953, was adapted in 1959 into a classic episode of the television series The Twilight Zone, bringing her name to a wider audience. She also wrote "Homesick" and "Grove of the Unborn." Public information about her life and work is limited, and existing accounts focus mainly on these few stories. In terms of subject matter and influence, she was one of the American short science fiction writers of the 1950s, and her work reached an audience beyond its original texts through television adaptation.