Star Performer

Shea, Robert, 1933-1994Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 27K words
Chapters: 3

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 Performer by Robert SheaAuthor: Shea, Robert, 1933-1994,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Mar 22, 2010

Editor's review

Star Performer is a short work by American author Robert Shea, made available as a public-domain ebook by Project Gutenberg. Shea lived from 1933 to 1994 and wrote in the field of genre fiction; this piece is brief and serves as a sample of his short-form style. In terms of its textual status, it is an English public-domain electronic text classified under American and Canadian literature, and the main barrier to reading is language rather than length. Its value lies in the narrative appeal of early genre short fiction: a focused setup and direct pacing, often working through a single concept or twist within a limited space. For readers researching public-domain ebook resources or looking to encounter Shea's work with a low time commitment, this piece is a convenient entry point. It should be noted that the materials provide only bibliographic and release information, with no plot details or evaluation; readers should approach the text with an open mind and judge its interest for themselves. It can be treated as a short story readable within one or two commutes, without expecting the elaboration and complex structure of a longer work.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want a quick sense of Robert Shea's style through a short piece
Enthusiasts and cataloguers who collect and study public-domain ebooks
Intermediate language learners who need short English reading practice
General readers interested in early genre short-fiction narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting long, complex plots and character arcs
Readers still at an entry level in English who need annotations
Readers hoping for detailed discussion of the author's life and creative background

Reading tips

Read the whole piece through once in a single sitting to grasp the overall turn, then revisit key passages.
While reading, note how a short story establishes setting and conflict within limited space; brief notes help.
For language study, select one or two paragraphs for close reading, organizing new words and sentence patterns.
Read alongside other public-domain short stories to compare how similar material is handled.

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 does this work take to read?

As a short work of limited length, readers with reasonable English proficiency can usually finish it within one or two commutes. Exact time varies with reading speed and how often you look up words; setting aside an uninterrupted stretch to read it in one go is recommended for grasping the overall rhythm.

I haven't read any other Robert Shea works. Can I read this directly?

Yes. This is a standalone short piece and does not depend on prior events from other works. The materials provide no information on connections to other works, so readers can go straight into the text and treat it as a single sample of the author's short-form style.

Does the electronic edition include annotations or an introduction?

According to the materials, this is a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, listing only basic information such as title, language, and classification; no annotations or introduction are mentioned. Readers who need background notes will have to consult other sources.

Comments

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About the author

Shea, Robert, 1933-1994 Author

Robert Shea (1933–1994) was an American author with seven works held in this collection. Public information about him is limited, making biographical details difficult to set out, yet his range as a writer is evident from his works. He ventured into both historical adventure and the mysterious and supernatural. The two Saracen novels, The Holy War and Land of the Infidel, are set against the medieval clash between the Crusaders and the Islamic world, with sweeping scenes, tight pacing, and a blend of historical atmosphere and adventure. Shaman and Resurrection turn toward mystical experience and supernatural imagination, with dark atmospheres and mounting suspense. Other titles, including The Helpful Robots, Mutineer, and Star Performer, cover varied subjects, showing the breadth of his writing. Shea was skilled at using genre fiction to explore cultural conflict and human nature, with brisk pacing and rich imagination.