Human Error

Raymond F. JonesProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 75K words
Chapters: 8

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.Human Error by Raymond F. JonesAuthor: Jones, Raymond F., 1915-1994,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 17, 2010

Editor's review

"Human Error" is a science fiction short story by Raymond F. Jones published in the mid-twentieth century and reissued by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. The title points directly to "human error," a theme often used in science fiction to examine technical systems, accountability, and human limitations. The work is short and serves as an accessible entry point into the style of early American science fiction magazines: direct premises, concentrated conflict, and speculation typically built around a technical or judgmental failure. Its value lies not in an expansive world but in the questions its concise narrative raises about attributing error—when a system fails, does responsibility lie with the machine, the process, or the people? For science fiction fans, it is a quick read that invites discussion; for readers studying the history of the genre or public-domain ebooks, it offers a sample of early science fiction concerns.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classic short science fiction and want a quick read
Readers interested in science fiction themes such as technical failure and accountability
Readers studying mid-twentieth-century American science fiction short stories
English learners seeking short English science fiction for extensive reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting lengthy world-building or complex character arcs
Readers who prefer contemporary science fiction and may find early science fiction pacing unfamiliar
Beginners with weak English reading skills who need extensive annotations

Reading tips

Read the story in one sitting first, then revisit what the title "Human Error" specifically refers to in the narrative.
After reading, list the key failures and who was responsible to practice analyzing science fiction premises.
For English study, focus on sentences used in technical discussion and common science fiction vocabulary.
Compare it with other science fiction short stories about human error to see how different authors handle the theme.

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 "Human Error" a novel or a short story?

According to Project Gutenberg's listing, it is a science fiction work by Raymond F. Jones and belongs among his shorter pieces. It can be read in one or two sittings, so there is no need to plan for a novel's pace; the exact length depends on the layout of the electronic edition you choose.

What does the title "Human Error" refer to in the story?

The title generally points to human mistakes or the limits of human judgment, but its specific meaning needs to be confirmed by reading. Readers can approach it with the question of who caused the error and how it is attributed; looking back at the title afterward often clarifies the author's attitude toward the relationship between technology and people.

Why does Project Gutenberg include this work?

Project Gutenberg specializes in ebooks that have entered the public domain. Some of Raymond F. Jones's early science fiction is now in the public domain, so it has been prepared and released. Readers can access it for free, but such editions usually lack modern introductions or annotations, so readers need to supply background themselves.

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About the author

Raymond F. Jones Author · American · 1915–1994

Raymond F. Jones (1915–1994) was an American science fiction writer born in Salt Lake City, Utah. His 1952 novel This Island Earth is his best-known work and was adapted into a film of the same name in 1955; he also wrote such novels as Renaissance and The Year of Stardust Fell. The collection here holds nine of his works, including Human Error, The Memory of Mars, The Unlearned, Cubs of the Wolf, The Memory of Mars (Japanese edition), The Great Gray Plague, The Colonists, and A Stone and a Spear, most of them short stories and novellas that often explore technological error, Mars exploration, and the limits of human understanding. His short fiction was nominated for the Hugo Award, and he held a place in the golden age of mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazines. Public information about his life and career is limited, and existing accounts center mainly on the works listed above.