Instinct

George Oliver SmithProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 26K words
Chapters: 3

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.Instinct by George O. SmithAuthor: Smith, George O. (George Oliver), 1911-1981,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 20, 2007

Editor's review

Instinct is a science fiction work by George O. Smith, released free of charge through Project Gutenberg. Smith came to science fiction writing from an engineering background, and his work often carries a flavor of technical extrapolation and rational speculation. The title points to "instinct," which in a science fiction context often signals an exploration of biological, mechanical, or social impulses; readers may note how the author turns "instinct" from a biological concept into a narrative driving force. As a public-domain ebook, the text is easy to obtain and serves as a sample for understanding the diverse face of mid-twentieth-century American science fiction. When reading, one need not seek grand spectacle; it is better to focus on the logic chain behind the setup and the characters' choices. Because the work is early, some ideas and expressions carry the limitations of their time; it is advisable to view it historically and understand it within the evolution of the science fiction genre rather than judging it simply by contemporary standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the work of engineer-turned-science-fiction writers
Those who want to build up their science fiction reading with public-domain English ebooks
Speculative readers who prefer conceptual extrapolation over action set pieces
Enthusiasts studying the evolution of mid-twentieth-century American science fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer the latest technical setups of contemporary hard science fiction
Those who have significant difficulty reading the English original and lack assistance
Readers expecting intense emotional conflict and character arcs

Reading tips

First clarify what meaning "instinct" is given in the story, then trace how it drives the plot.
After finishing, summarize the core setup in a few sentences to check whether you have grasped the author's extrapolative logic.
Read it alongside works by science fiction writers of the same period with engineering backgrounds to observe similarities and differences in technological imagination.
When you encounter strongly period-flavored expressions, mark them first and look up background materials together after finishing.

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 the theme of this book biological instinct?

The title "Instinct" is often used by extension in science fiction and does not necessarily refer specifically to biological instinct. The materials do not provide plot details; when reading, it is advisable first to observe what object the author applies "instinct" to, then judge where the theme lands.

What are the characteristics of George O. Smith's writing?

According to public-domain materials, Smith had an engineering background, and his science fiction often carries a flavor of technical extrapolation and rational speculation. When reading this book, note whether the setup is self-consistent and whether the characters serve conceptual demonstration; this helps in understanding his writing orientation.

What is the reading experience of the Gutenberg edition like?

Project Gutenberg provides free electronic texts, mainly in plain text, which is convenient for searching and excerpting. The drawback is that there are no modern annotations or introductions, so readers must supplement the author's and period background themselves; it suits readers willing to actively look up materials.

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About the author

George Oliver Smith Author · American · 1911–1981

George Oliver Smith (1911–1981) was an American science fiction writer and electronics engineer. Active during the Golden Age of science fiction in the 1940s, he is known for the "Venus Equilateral" series of space-communications-station stories, which often combine engineering detail with space adventure. The library holds 10 of his works, including Operation Interstellar, The Fourth R, History Repeats, Amateur in Chancery, Instinct, Highways in Hiding, The Troublemakers, and The Big Fix. Most of these are short stories or novellas dealing with interstellar communication, future societies, and the ethics of technology, reflecting his preference for exploring technological consequences from an engineer's perspective. Public information about his life and career is limited, but these works sufficiently show his distinctive place in Golden Age science fiction.