Pagan Passions

Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.4

Word count: 256K words
Chapters: 26

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.Pagan Passions by Randall Garrett and Laurence M. JaniferAuthor: Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 26, 2007

Editor's review

Pagan Passions is an English-language science fiction novel co-written by Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer, released free by Project Gutenberg. The record places it in the American literature category as a public-domain ebook, and its length and style point to mid-twentieth-century popular science fiction: light in setup, plot-driven, often humorous and satirical. Its value for readers lies in free access to the narrative pacing and imaginative habits of Golden Age science fiction, and it also serves as a sample for studying how genre literature evolved. Note that such works carry strong period markings; characterization and gender attitudes may not meet contemporary expectations, so it is best read with a sense of genre history. Suited to reading in short stretches on a commute or break, not to readers seeking deep literary quality or rigorous scientific worldbuilding.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy mid-twentieth-century British and American popular science fiction and want brisk plotting
Fans who want free public-domain science fiction and a look at genre history
Readers needing short, episodic entertainment who can accept period limitations
Beginners curious about humorous and satirical science fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting hard science fiction or rigorous scientific extrapolation
Readers sensitive to old-fashioned gender attitudes and period stereotypes
Readers who prefer deep characterization and literary expression

Reading tips

Read it as a genre specimen and note the narrative formulas and comic devices of the period.
Read one or two chapters a day rather than pushing straight through; it suits fragmented time.
After finishing, compare it with other public-domain science fiction of the same era to observe similarities and differences in subject and style.
Jot brief notes when you meet clearly outdated ideas, distinguishing period context from authorial intent.

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

What kind of work is this book?

The record shows it is an English-language novel co-written by Garrett and Janifer, classified under American literature and released by Project Gutenberg. Judging by the authors' backgrounds and the title, it belongs to mid-twentieth-century popular science fiction, with brisk plotting and a humorous tone.

Do I need a background in science fiction to read it?

No special background is needed. It is popular genre fiction, plot-driven and easy to enter. Still, knowing a little about common Golden Age science fiction tropes will help you appreciate its humor and satire and make for a fuller reading experience.

Does this edition include editorial notes or an introduction?

According to the available information, the book is a Project Gutenberg public-domain electronic text, and no modern notes or introduction are mentioned. Readers who want background can look up material on the authors and on the genre to support their reading.

Are the ideas in the book outdated?

Old science fiction like this often bears clear marks of its time, and characterization and gender attitudes may clash with contemporary expectations. Read with a sense of genre history, distinguish period context from what the work expresses, and avoid dismissing it outright by present-day standards.

Comments

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About the author

Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002 Author

Laurence M. Janifer (1933–2002) was an American science fiction writer. Public information about him is limited, and details of his life are rarely covered in Chinese-language sources. The library holds 14 of his works, including Brain Twister, Supermind, The Impossibles, Charley de Milo, Occasion for Disaster, Lost in Translation, Sight Gag, and The Man Who Played to Lose. Judging from these titles, he was skilled at handling science fiction with a light, humorous touch, building plots around bizarre premises with irony and ingenuity; some works belong to series. His brisk, entertaining style earned him a place in the mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazine and paperback market, and he retains appeal for readers who enjoy traditional humorous science fiction.