Pet Farm

Roger Dolphus AycockProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 38K words
Chapters: 4

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.Pet Farm by Roger D. AycockAuthor: Aycock, Roger D., 1914-2004,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 12, 2010

Editor's review

"Pet Farm" is a short science fiction piece by Roger D. Aycock (1914–2004) from the mid-twentieth century, made available as a free eBook by Project Gutenberg. Aycock wrote regularly for pulp science fiction magazines, and his work often approaches the human condition through a light-handed premise; this story follows that pattern, opening with a seemingly ordinary "pet farm" that gradually reveals its science-fictional edge. As a public-domain electronic text, it is short and plainly written—a good sample of the American science fiction short story scene of the 1950s, and suited to a single short read on a commute or before bed. While reading, note how the author uses everyday imagery to carry a speculative idea, and the mild irony at the end about the relations between humans and animals, humans and technology. Note that this is the original English eBook; Chinese readers will need basic English reading ability. The Project Gutenberg edition provides text only, with no notes or introduction; reading alongside biographical material on the author and background on magazine science fiction is recommended.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to read a short English-language science fiction story in spare moments
Those interested in American pulp science fiction magazines of the 1950s
Learners who need a free public-domain English text for reading practice
Science fiction fans who enjoy light premises wrapped around social satire

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for a novel-length, fully built world
Readers with weak English who need a Chinese parallel text or annotations
Readers expecting strong plotting and fast-paced action

Reading tips

Read through once without worrying about details, grasping how the "pet farm" premise gradually takes shape.
On a second pass, pay attention to dialogue and narrative voice, and appreciate the author's restrained humor and irony.
After reading, look up pay rates and readership for American science fiction magazines of the 1950s to help place the work.
If using it for English study, copy out sentences describing everyday scenes and imitate their plain narration.

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 book in Chinese or English?

It is the original English edition. Project Gutenberg provides a public-domain English electronic text with no Chinese translation, so basic English ability is needed before reading; use a dictionary for unfamiliar words.

How long is it, and how long does it take to read?

This is a magazine short story, not long; a reader at moderate English reading speed can usually finish it in one or two sittings. It suits commuting, lunch breaks, and other fragmented moments—no need to set aside a large block of time.

I haven't read anything else by the author—can I start with this?

Yes. It is a standalone short story and does not depend on earlier work. If you enjoy it, look for other public-domain stories by Aycock and compare them, observing the premises and narrative rhythms he returns to.

Does the electronic edition have notes or an introduction?

The Project Gutenberg edition mainly provides the original text and generally includes no notes, introduction, or translator's remarks. It is advisable to look up the author's biography and the background of magazine science fiction yourself as aids to understanding.

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About the author

Roger Dolphus Aycock Author · American · 1914–2004

Roger D. Aycock (1914–2004) was an American science fiction writer, born Roger Dolphus Aycock in Floyd County, Georgia, and best known by the pen name Roger Dee. He made his debut in 1949 with "The Wheel Is Death" and during the 1950s and 1960s wrote more than fifty short stories for magazines such as Galaxy and If. His work often centers on space exploration, encounters with alien worlds, and human dilemmas, with tight plotting and frequent twists at the end, combining popular entertainment with thoughtful speculation. His representative works include "Traders Risk," "Control Group," and "Assignment's End," and he also wrote the novel An Earth Gone Mad. Twelve of his works are held in the collection, including "The Feeling," "Pet Farm," and "Wailing Wall"; public information on his classification is limited, and his influence rests mainly on magazine science fiction of the later Golden Age.