Perfect Answer

L. J. Stecher, Jr.Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 23K 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.Perfect Answer by Jr. L. J. StecherAuthor: Stecher, L. J., Jr., 1918-1988,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Mar 17, 2016

Editor's review

This is the public-domain electronic text of L. J. Stecher Jr.'s short story Perfect Answer, released by Project Gutenberg. The records identify it only as an English short story classified under American and Canadian literature, with no plot or thematic details, so it is best treated as a quick English-language science fiction short story, useful for observing the narrative pacing and length control of mid-twentieth-century English popular science fiction. The electronic edition can be read in one sitting on a screen or e-reader, and it also works as English extensive-reading material or as a candidate text for a short-story discussion class. Because there is no introduction or annotation, readers must orient themselves; those expecting lengthy world-building or a detailed author biography will not find it here. It is advisable to confirm your tolerance for short science fiction before reading, and afterward to summarize the core premise in one sentence to test whether you have grasped the author's answer.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to read an English-language science fiction short story in spare moments
Language learners doing English extensive reading who need short texts
Teachers collecting public-domain science fiction short stories for classroom discussion
Fans interested in mid-twentieth-century English popular science fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers who want a long novel and a fully built world
Researchers who need detailed author biography and annotations
Readers who are not used to English originals and expect a Chinese translation

Reading tips

Read it straight through first, then look back at the opening; the answer in a short story often depends on the echo between beginning and end.
Note the core premise and turning points as you read, then retell the plot in three sentences to test your understanding.
For English study, choose one passage for close reading and collect its colloquial expressions.
Read it alongside other public-domain short stories in the same series and compare how different authors handle their endings.

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 is this story about?

The available records identify it only as an English short story by L. J. Stecher Jr. classified under American and Canadian literature, with no plot summary. It is therefore impossible to summarize the story without inventing content. It is best to read the original directly, or to check reliable public-domain bibliographic information first before deciding whether it suits you.

Is it long? How long does it take to finish?

The records do not give a word count, but it is a short story and can usually be read in a single reading session. The exact time depends on your English reading speed. Close reading or looking up words will take longer; a single pass is enough to grasp the premise and the ending.

Is there a Chinese translation or annotations?

The records show that this is an English public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, with no mention of a Chinese translation or annotations. If you need a Chinese parallel text or detailed notes, you will have to look for another edition. When reading the English original, keep a dictionary tool at hand.

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About the author

L. J. Stecher, Jr. Author · American · 1918–1988

L. J. Stecher, Jr. (1918–1988) was an American science fiction writer active in the 1950s and 1960s, publishing mainly in science fiction magazines such as Galaxy Science Fiction. Eight of his works are included in the database, among them the short stories "Cakewalk to Gloryanna," "When You Giffle...," "Man in a Quandary," "An Elephant for the Prinkip," "Man in a Sewing Machine," "Upstarts," "Garth and the Visitor," and "Perfect Answer." These titles suggest a focus on short-form science fiction, often drawing readers with peculiar premises and slightly playful titles, and developing narratives around mistaken identity, absurd situations, and unexpected twists. Public information is limited, so details of his life and the full scope of his work are difficult to verify, and no common category is given; one existing profile also describes him as a pen name of Joseph Wesley, which may be noted. Overall, he was part of the mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazine scene, known for short stories that are light in tone and rich in imagination.