The Smiler

Hernhuter, Albert, 1934-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 5.7K words
Chapters: 1

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 Smiler by Albert HernhuterAuthor: Hernhuter, Albert, 1934-,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 28, 2009

Editor's review

The Smiler is a short science fiction work by Albert Hernhunter published in the mid-20th century, released as a free public-domain e-book by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies in showing the typical form of short fiction from the early science fiction magazine era: concise length, focused setting, and a narrative driven by one core concept or twist, making it useful for observing the thematic interests and writing conventions of the genre in a particular period. As a short piece, it has a low barrier to entry, can be read in one sitting during a commute or in fragments, and is also suitable as a discussion text for a science fiction class or book club, with analysis centered on its setup logic, character motivation, and ending. Note that public-domain e-books offer limited material, so readers should not expect detailed annotations or author research; at the same time, the work carries the expressive habits of its era, and modern readers should understand it in the context of genre history rather than measure it by the completeness of contemporary long-form science fiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classic short science fiction and want a quick reading experience
Enthusiasts and students studying the development of science fiction as a genre
Organizers who need a short text for a book club or classroom discussion
Commuters reading public-domain e-books in fragments of time

Not a good fit for

Deep science fiction readers expecting expansive worldbuilding and complex character arcs
Readers who need detailed annotations, introductions, or author research materials
Contemporary readers uncomfortable with mid-20th-century science fiction writing habits

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the story’s direction, then revisit key passages and note the foreshadowing of the twist.
After reading, compare the core setup with contemporary short science fiction to appreciate how genre writing evolved.
If used for discussion, list two or three open questions around the ethical or logical issues of the ending.
Read it alongside a contemporary short science fiction piece to observe differences in narrative pacing and thematic focus.

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 work, and how long does it take to read?

It is a short science fiction story, concise in length, usually readable in one sitting; the exact time depends on reading speed. It suits commutes, lunch breaks, and other fragments of time, and is easy to reread to appreciate its setup and twist.

Can I understand it without a background in science fiction?

Yes. The short structure is focused, and the core concept usually unfolds early, without relying on extensive series background knowledge. Readers need only follow the narrative to understand the story; if unfamiliar with early science fiction writing habits, consulting genre background material afterward will be more rewarding.

Is this book suitable for classroom or book club use?

Yes. Its short length makes it easy for participants to finish before class, and discussion can center on setup logic, character motivation, and the ending. Organizers can prepare several open questions in advance to guide comparison of thematic and narrative differences between early and contemporary science fiction.

Does the Project Gutenberg version include annotations?

Project Gutenberg mainly provides public-domain e-book texts, usually presenting the original text and not necessarily detailed annotations or scholarly introductions. For a deeper understanding of the work’s background, consult genre history materials separately and read it alongside other short works from the same period.

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About the author

Hernhuter, Albert, 1934- Author · 1934

Albert Hernhuter (1934– ) is an author about whom little public information is available. All that is currently known is that he was born in 1934 and has two works to his name, Texas Week and The Smiler. Judging from the available information, his writing tends toward narrative works; the titles alone suggest a strong sense of scene and character, hinting that his stories may focus on individual experiences within specific situations and adopt a plain, unadorned style rather than grand panoramas. Because neither the library's classification nor the author's background is available, it is difficult to judge accurately the literary genre, readership, or influence of his works, and with only two titles, his output appears small or his translated presence limited. Overall, he is an author with relatively sparse documentation, best approached through his works rather than through speculation about his life and achievements.