The Common Man

Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 86K words
Chapters: 9

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 Common Man by Mack ReynoldsAuthor: Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 25, 2007

Editor's review

Mack Reynolds was a prolific author in American science fiction and popular fiction, and The Common Man continues his familiar mode of social fable: starting from a seemingly ordinary premise, it gradually reveals the tension between institutions and the individual. The work is short, yet it pushes the concept of "the common man" to the forefront, prompting readers to consider what an ordinary individual really means in a highly organized society. Reynolds's narration is clean and brisk, the dialogue moves quickly, and there is almost no scenic description; it reads more like an extended speculative essay. Its strength lies in wrapping social observation in a light science-fictional shell, winning not through spectacle but through the questions raised by its premise. It is suited to being read in one sitting during a quiet stretch of time; afterward, looking back at the opening premise will yield a second layer of understanding. As a public-domain electronic text, it also serves as an accessible sample for understanding the style of mid-twentieth-century American popular science fiction. It should be noted that the work was written rather early, and some of its social assumptions carry the limitations of their time; it is best understood in historical context.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and social fables
Reflective readers interested in issues such as institutions and the individual's situation
Readers who want to understand the style of mid-twentieth-century American popular science fiction
Science fiction fans who need short English original texts for extensive reading

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer hard science fiction with technical detail and grand world-building
Genre fiction readers expecting strong plotting and action scenes
Readers who find it hard to tolerate older social assumptions

Reading tips

Read it through in one sitting first, then revisit the opening premise to appreciate the irony the author has planted.
While reading, pay attention to the clashes of values in the dialogue; this is the main way the work advances its ideas.
It can be read alongside other social-fable short stories to compare how different authors approach similar themes.
English learners can follow the main line of dialogue first and hold off looking up unfamiliar words when they do not impede overall understanding.

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 work hard science fiction?

No. It is closer to light science fiction in the manner of a social fable; the focus is not on technical setups or scientific extrapolation but on using a premise to discuss the relationship between the individual and institutions. The barrier to reading is low.

How long is it, and when is a good time to read it?

It is a short work, usually readable in one or two sittings. It is best read in one go during a quiet, uninterrupted stretch so that you can grasp the overall premise and its echo in the ending.

Can I understand it without knowing the author?

Yes. The work stands relatively on its own and does not depend on prior knowledge of the author's other works. For a deeper understanding, you can learn about the publishing context of mid-twentieth-century American popular science fiction after reading.

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About the author

Reynolds, Mack, 1917-1983 Author

Mack Reynolds (1917–1983) was an American science fiction writer, born Dallas McCord Reynolds. Because public information is limited, no speculation is made here about his early life or education. The collection holds twenty-five of his works, including I’m a Stranger Here Myself, The Common Man, Happy Ending, Dogfight—1973, Black Man’s Burden, Off Course, Summit, and Ultima Thule. These titles suggest that he excelled at short stories and novellas, often addressing social issues, race relations, political conflict, and future warfare. His titles are frequently blunt and ironic, his narratives tight, and he makes effective use of suspense and reversal to discuss real-world problems within the framework of popular science fiction. His work appeared mainly in mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazines and has had some influence on later socially engaged science fiction.