The Servant Problem

Robert Franklin YoungProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 61K words
Chapters: 7

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 Servant Problem by Robert F. YoungAuthor: Young, Robert F., 1915-1986,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 29, 2007

Editor's review

"The Servant Problem" is a short science fiction story by Robert F. Young, available as a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg. Young was a twentieth-century American science fiction author who often handled themes with a twist in a concise, brisk style. This story builds its science fiction premise around the everyday role of the "servant"; it is short and tightly paced, making it a good sample of late Golden Age short science fiction style. Its value lies in using a light premise to probe the relationship between people and service, dependence and control; it is an enjoyable read that lingers in the mind. Being a short story, it suits reading in one sitting on a commute or in spare moments, and also works as a model text for science fiction writing classes or book clubs discussing twist structures and premise development. As you read, note how the author completes the setup and turn within a short length, and the social metaphor behind the premise.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and prefer twist premises
Readers who want to understand twentieth-century American short science fiction style
Organizers of science fiction writing classes or book clubs looking for a discussion text
Commuters or碎片-time readers who prefer to finish in one sitting

Not a good fit for

Hard science fiction readers expecting long-form worldbuilding and complex premises
Readers hoping for deep character development and nuanced psychological portrayal
Readers not accustomed to older-style science fiction pacing

Reading tips

Read in one sitting; avoid interruptions that would weaken the twist experience
After finishing, revisit the opening setup to appreciate how the premise was planted
Compare with short science fiction of the same era to discuss differences in handling themes
Book clubs can design discussion questions around the "servant" metaphor

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

How long is this story, and how long does it take to read?

It is a short science fiction story of modest length, usually readable in one commute or about half an hour of focused reading. Reading it in one sitting is recommended to fully experience the narrative pacing and the ending twist, since reading in segments can weaken the twist's effect.

I haven't read the author's other works. Can I read this directly?

Yes. This is a standalone short story that does not require prior reading of the author's other works. If you become interested in the author's style after reading, you can look up his public-domain works for further reading, but there is no barrier to understanding this story on its own.

Is this book suitable as a model for a science fiction writing class?

Yes. The short story has a clear structure and moderate length, making it easy to analyze in class how the premise is introduced, how conflict advances, and how the ending completes the twist. Teachers can guide students to break down where the setup and turn occur and discuss the social metaphor behind the premise, using it as a reference text for writing exercises.

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About the author

Robert Franklin Young Author · American · 1915–1986

Robert Franklin Young was an American science fiction writer, born on June 8, 1915, in Silver Creek, New York, and died in the same place on June 22, 1986. He worked mainly in short fiction over a career spanning more than three decades, and his poetic, romantic style has often led critics to compare him with Ray Bradbury and Theodore Sturgeon. His representative works include The Girl in His Mind and Star Mother, and he received a Hugo Award nomination for Best Short Story in 1965. Six of his works are included in the collection, among them Star Mother, Sweet Tooth, Collector's Item, The Servant Problem, The Girl in His Mind, and A Knyght Ther Was, commonly classified under inspirational growth. Public information about the details of his life is limited, however, and existing accounts focus mainly on the themes and style of his work.