Project Hush

William Tenn (Philip Klass)Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 14K words
Chapters: 2

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 Hush by William TennAuthor: Tenn, William, 1920-2010,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 2, 2010

Editor's review

Project Hush is a science fiction short story by William Tenn, who earned his place in science fiction with a witty, satirical narrative style; this story continues his approach of wrapping real-world satire in absurd premises. The story revolves around a plan called "Hush," using exaggerated situations to generate humor and reflection, with a compact length and a neat twist. As a public-domain electronic text in the Project Gutenberg collection, it serves as an introductory read for understanding the mid-twentieth-century tradition of science fiction humor, and is also suitable as short discussion material for classrooms or book clubs. Readers can observe how early science fiction handles themes of secrecy, bureaucracy, and human nature. Again, note the conceptual limitations of the era in which the work was created; it should not be judged simply by contemporary standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy science fiction short stories with satire and humor
New readers wanting to know William Tenn's writing style
Book clubs and classroom users needing short discussion material
E-book readers who prefer light, brisk reading

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer serious hard science fiction and technical detail
Readers expecting full-length narrative and deep character development
Readers who only read Chinese translations

Reading tips

On the first pass, follow the plot and note where the humor and twists fall.
On the second pass, focus on the real-world issues the satire targets and consider how the premise maps onto reality.
After reading, compare with other short stories by the same author to recognize his narrative patterns.
Best read in one sitting, then take a few minutes to savor the ending.

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 the theme of this work?

Judging from the title and the author's style, the work revolves around a plan named "Hush," using an exaggerated secrecy situation to create humor and satire. The specific plot requires reading the original to confirm; no speculation beyond the available material is offered here.

Is it suitable as book club material?

Yes. The short length allows participants to finish it within an hour, and the ending twist and satirical points provide discussion entry points on topics such as secrecy, bureaucratic behavior, and human nature.

What are the features of the Gutenberg edition?

Project Gutenberg provides free electronic texts that are easy to download and read across devices. This entry is the original English text, mainly plain text, suitable for quick reading, with no notes or introduction.

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About the author

William Tenn (Philip Klass) Author · American · 1920–2010

William Tenn (1920–2010) was the pen name of the American science fiction writer Philip Klass. Born in London and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he was best known for his satirical and humorous science fiction short stories, in which he handled the absurd sides of society and human nature in a light and witty style. His representative works include Of All Possible Worlds, The Men in the Walls, Venus Is a Man's World, and Project Hush, and four of his works are held in this collection. Tenn taught at Pennsylvania State University and received the Author Emeritus title from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1999. Public information about his life and writing is limited, and the present introduction is based mainly on the points above.