The Buttoned Sky

Robert W. KreppsProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 191K words
Chapters: 20

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. The Buttoned Sky by Robert W. Krepps. Author: Krepps, Robert W., 1919-1980. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: May 21, 2010

Editor's review

The Buttoned Sky is a short science fiction work by Robert W. Krepps published in the mid-twentieth century. Concise in length, it bears the unmistakable stamp of its era: when the sky is somehow "buttoned up," humanity's understanding of the cosmos and its own place are utterly rewritten. Its most notable feature is that the concept comes first—a near-allegorical central image compresses technological intervention, the limits of perception, and human insignificance into a tight narrative. Krepps excels at building suspense and reversal within a limited space; the pacing is brisk, with little world-building exposition, so readers must piece the information together as they follow the narrative. As a public-domain ebook, it serves well as an introductory sample of Golden Age science fiction short stories, and is also suited to being read in one sitting during a commute or before bed. Read it as a thought experiment: the point lies not in character arcs but in what that "buttoned" sky actually means.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in mid-twentieth-century British and American science fiction short stories
Readers who enjoy concept-driven, short works they can finish in one sitting
Beginners who want a low-cost ebook introduction to public-domain science fiction
Science fiction fans who prefer suspenseful premises and allegorical writing

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting modern hard-SF technical detail and rigorous world-building
Readers who prefer full-length novels with complete character arcs
Readers not yet comfortable with English originals who need a Chinese translation

Reading tips

Read it straight through first, then return to the opening and notice how the author plants suspense and foreshadowing.
After finishing, look up common themes of Golden Age science fiction and compare them with this book's premise.
If the English is difficult, read through with a dictionary rather than puzzling over every word.
Treat it as a short-story sample and read it alongside works by contemporaries to sense the style of the era.

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?

According to the public-domain record, it is a short science fiction work, concise in length and suitable for reading in one or two sittings. Its focus is the unfolding and reversal of its central premise rather than a complex, long-running plot.

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

No. The concept comes first and the narrative is tight, so general readers can follow it. Still, familiarity with common Golden Age science fiction motifs will make it easier to appreciate the author's intent and the era's limitations.

What language is the ebook in, and is there a Chinese translation?

This edition is an English public-domain ebook provided by Project Gutenberg, with the original text in English. Available information shows no Chinese translation, so readers need basic English reading ability or a translation tool for assistance.

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About the author

Robert W. Krepps Author · American · 1919–1980

Robert W. Krepps (1919–1980) was an American author born in Pittsburgh. Public information about the details of his life is limited. He wrote chiefly science fiction and fantasy, often under the pen name Geoff St Reynard, publishing in pulp magazines such as Fantastic Adventures and Imagination. His representative works include The Enormous Room (co-written with H. L. Gold), The Buttoned Sky, and The Giants from Outer Space. He also wrote Westerns and adventure fiction. Three of his works are included in this collection. His writing belongs to the mid-twentieth-century American pulp magazine milieu, leaning toward space adventure and imaginative speculation, and his use of a pen name reflects the common practice among genre writers of publishing across multiple outlets. His literary standing and influence have yet to be systematically assessed.