Sentiment, Inc.

Anderson, Poul, 1926-2001Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 59K words
Chapters: 6

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.Sentiment, Inc. by Poul AndersonAuthor: Anderson, Poul, 1926-2001,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 7, 2011

Editor's review

Sentiment, Inc. is a novella by science fiction master Poul Anderson, made freely available again through Project Gutenberg. The story revolves around the premise of "sentiment" being corporatized and technologically processed, with the typical flavor of Golden Age science fiction: a technological invention is used to probe social ethics, exploring whether human emotions can be commodified and manipulated, and the resulting questions of identity and free will. Anderson excels at building a complete worldview within limited space; the narration is tight, balancing suspense and speculation, and the ending often lingers. This edition is an English-language ebook, suitable as an entry point for science fiction fans to Anderson's short fiction and for English learners to encounter authentic science fiction narrative in a shorter format. While reading, note how the author advances the plot through dialogue and embeds humanistic issues in the technological premise. As a public-domain ebook, the text is primarily for reading and contains no introduction or notes; readers must establish the background themselves.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Golden Age science fiction and prefer fast-paced short narratives
Science fiction fans interested in ethical issues such as the technologization of emotion and free will
English learners who want to practice reading with short English originals
Science fiction readers who want a systematic overview of Poul Anderson's work

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting long, grand worldbuilding and complex ensembles of characters
Beginners who need a Chinese translation or detailed notes to assist reading
Readers who prefer contemporary hard science fiction or near-future realistic styles

Reading tips

Read it through in one sitting first, then revisit the key passages where the technological premise appears and sort out the ethical questions the author raises.
While reading, note the characters' changes before and after "emotion processing" to see how the premise serves the theme.
For English study, read for plot first, then closely read the dialogue to accumulate science fiction context expressions.
After reading, compare with other Golden Age science fiction short stories to see how similar technological premises are handled differently.

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 a novel or a short story?

It is a novella by Poul Anderson, not long, suitable for reading in one or two sittings. The story focuses on a single emotion-processing technology, with a tight pace and no sprawling subplots.

There is no Chinese translation; can I read it if my English is not good?

The original is in English, generally narrative in language but containing science fiction terminology and dialogue. Readers with modest English can use a dictionary or read alongside a translation; for smoother comprehension, look up a Chinese introduction to the premise first, then read the original.

Does this edition have an introduction or notes?

This edition comes from Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook, mainly the text itself, usually without a modern introduction, notes, or translator's remarks. Readers must look up background information themselves, making it suitable for those used to independent reading.

Do I need to know Poul Anderson before reading this?

No. The work itself has a clear premise and is self-contained, so readers new to Anderson can still get into it. If you become interested afterward, you can then explore his novels and his place in science fiction history.

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About the author

Anderson, Poul, 1926-2001 Author

Poul Anderson (1926–2001) was an American writer of science fiction and fantasy whose career spanned the second half of the twentieth century and who produced a substantial body of work. Fourteen of his works are held here, including The Chapter Ends, The Valor of Cappen Varra, The Golden Slave, The Sensitive Man, Sentiment, Inc., Industrial Revolution, Snowball and Inside Earth, covering themes such as space exploration, time travel, historical fantasy and satirical social fables. His writing is notable for solid scientific premises and brisk narrative pacing, combining adventure with speculation; some short stories use future settings to examine human nature and social institutions with a gently ironic tone. Because public information is limited, no conjectures are made here about biographical details or awards; the works at hand show a wide-ranging and versatile writer with a certain influence among readers of English-language genre fiction.