Project Hi-Psi

Riley, Frank, 1915-1996Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 137K words
Chapters: 14

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.Project Hi-Psi by Frank RileyAuthor: Riley, Frank, 1915-1996,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 18, 2019

Editor's review

This English-language science fiction work by Frank Riley, published in the mid-twentieth century, is now reissued as a public-domain e-book. The “Hi-Psi” in the title suggests a theme of parapsychic abilities or mental experiments, a narrative type common in the golden age of American popular science fiction, combining technological speculation with tests of human nature. Its value lies in showing how science fiction writers of the period imagined consciousness, the limits of ability and scientific ethics; it is short, its premise direct, and it serves as a sample of early English-language short science fiction. The prose is accessible and the plot moves quickly, so the barrier to reading is low; given its period limitations, however, some ideas and scientific assumptions should be viewed historically. It suits science fiction fans exploring the genre's roots and English learners seeking light original reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early English-language short science fiction
Enthusiasts wanting to trace the lineage of parapsychic science fiction
Intermediate learners needing light original English reading
Genre researchers and collectors of science fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting hard science and rigorous extrapolation
Those sensitive to the conceptual limitations of the mid-twentieth century
Readers who prefer long works with complex world-building

Reading tips

Read it as a period sample and note how the author handles the relationship between ability and ethics.
After reading, compare it with other short science fiction of the same period to observe shared themes.
English learners can first read for plot, then closely study the dialogue and premise sections.
Do not insist on scientific accuracy; focus on narrative structure and the mode of imagination.

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 does “Hi-Psi” refer to?

Judging from the title and the science fiction context, “Psi” usually refers to parapsychological phenomena or mental abilities, and “Hi-Psi” is likely a name for such abilities or related experiments. The specific premise must be confirmed in the text itself; the public-domain catalogue information does not detail the plot, so readers can determine its exact meaning as they read.

Is the book long? Can it be read in one sitting?

The public-domain catalogue does not give a word count, but judging from Riley's usual style of short and medium-length science fiction, such works are typically short and tightly paced, suitable for reading in one or two sittings. Readers can arrange this according to the actual length of the e-text; reading through for plot first and then revisiting the premise sections works best.

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

No. The text is aimed at general popular science fiction readers, with a direct plot and fairly clear exposition of its premise. Familiarity with common mid-twentieth-century American science fiction motifs will make its period character easier to appreciate, but newcomers to the genre can also read it smoothly.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Riley, Frank, 1915-1996 Author

Frank Riley (1915–1996) was an American science fiction writer, though public information about him is limited. Active in the mid-twentieth century, he has five works collected here: Project Hi-Psi, The Executioner, Bright Islands, The Cyber and Justice Holmes, and Abbr. Judging from these titles, Riley worked mainly in short fiction, developing science fiction premises around future technological projects, the law, and cybernetics. His prose is concise, with an emphasis on plot momentum and conceptual play, typical of the popular science fiction magazines of the period. The Cyber and Justice Holmes in particular is often noted for its interest in the boundary between technology, law, and human nature. Because biographical and critical sources are scarce, his full profile remains to be explored, yet the existing works already reveal a popular writer who left his mark on the golden age of science fiction.