Star, Bright

Mark Irvin CliftonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.7

Word count: 48K words
Chapters: 5

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.Star, Bright by Mark CliftonAuthor: Clifton, Mark, 1906-1963,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 15, 2016

Editor's review

Star, Bright is a science fiction short story by Mark Clifton. The two words of the title point to the story's central image, and the piece is concise, carrying the speculative temper common to mid-twentieth-century science fiction. Clifton's science fiction often turns on intelligence, ability, and the boundaries of human nature, and this story likewise uses a simple premise to prompt reflection. As a free Project Gutenberg eBook, it can be read in one sitting on a commute or a short break, and it also serves as a sample of short science fiction writing, showing how an author builds a premise and tension within limited space. Readers need not look for a complex world; instead, watch how the characters' minds change when faced with unusual ability and what their choices cost. For newcomers to science fiction it is an accessible piece; for readers familiar with Golden Age science fiction, it can be read against other works on similar themes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who like short science fiction and want to finish a piece quickly
Readers interested in science fiction about intelligence and ability
Readers who want to see how mid-twentieth-century short science fiction was written
People who read short English fiction on their commute

Not a good fit for

Science fiction readers who prefer long world-building and complex premises
Beginners unable to read the original English
Readers expecting hard science detail and technical extrapolation

Reading tips

Read it in one sitting, then look back at how the title echoes key events.
Note how the characters react to unusual ability and what they choose.
After reading, compare it with other short science fiction on the theme of ability.
If reading the original English, read through for plot first, then look up words and expressions.

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

About how long is this story?

The available information indicates a single short science fiction story, suitable for reading in one or two sittings. Exact page count varies with ebook formatting, but the overall length is that of a short story, completable on a commute or during a short break.

What themes does the story mainly explore?

Given the title and the author's usual bent in science fiction, the story speculates on unusual ability, differences in intelligence, and human choice. Watch the characters' psychological changes when faced with ability, and the costs and responsibilities that ability brings.

Can readers new to science fiction understand it?

Yes. This is a short story with a relatively focused premise that does not depend on a vast world, so newcomers can try it. If you meet unfamiliar expressions, grasp the characters and the direction of the plot first, then return to key passages for a closer read.

Comments

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About the author

Mark Irvin Clifton Author · American · 1906–1963

Mark Clifton (1906–1963), born Mark Irvin Clifton, was an American science fiction writer and industrial psychologist. He long worked in personnel management, a background that led his science fiction to focus on the tensions between psychology, human nature, and managerial systems. From 1952 he published in magazines such as Astounding; his output was modest but drew consistent attention. His representative works include They'd Rather Be Right, co-written with Frank Riley and winner of the 1955 Hugo Award for Best Novel, along with Eight Keys to Eden, Star, Bright, and Sense from Thought Divide. Eight of his works are collected here. Public information on his early education and specific career is limited. His fiction is notable for its speculative strength and subtle psychological portrayal, using science-fictional premises to explore prejudice, rationality, and group behavior, earning him a distinctive place in 1950s American science fiction.