Thompson's Cat

Williams, Robert Moore, 1907-1977Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

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.Thompson's Cat by Robert Moore WilliamsAuthor: Williams, Robert Moore, 1907-1977,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 11, 2010

Editor's review

Thompson's Cat is a short science fiction work by Robert Moore Williams, made available as a free eBook by Project Gutenberg. Williams was active in mid-twentieth-century American popular science fiction magazines, and his work is known for brisk pacing and surprising premises. This book unfolds around a cat as its thread, short enough to finish in one sitting during a commute or lunch break. As a public-domain eBook, its value lies not only in the story itself but in offering a sample of early science fiction magazine style: clear character relationships, direct suspense, and endings that often carry a twist. While reading, notice how the author builds tension with very few scenes and characters, and how science fiction of that era imagined everyday life. For readers curious about the English-language short science fiction tradition who do not want to invest much time, this is an accessible entry point. Note that it is an early popular work whose narrative methods and values bear the marks of its time; it is best appreciated from a literary-historical perspective.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short science fiction and want a story finished in spare moments
Readers interested in the style of mid-twentieth-century American popular magazine science fiction
Language learners who want light English original texts in public-domain eBooks
Writers interested in studying the narrative conventions of early short science fiction

Not a good fit for

Hard science fiction readers who prefer long works with grand worldbuilding and complex premises
Readers sensitive to the pacing and values of older fiction
Readers expecting detailed author biography or in-depth commentary

Reading tips

Read it in one sitting to preserve the full effect of the ending's twist; avoid frequent interruptions.
After finishing, look back at the opening and note how the author's foreshadowing and clues connect.
If reading the English original, follow the plot first, then pick passages describing the cat and the characters' interactions for close attention to language.
Read alongside other public-domain science fiction shorts to observe common approaches in popular science fiction of the same period.

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 Project Gutenberg's record, it is a short work by Robert Moore Williams, not long, suited to finishing in one or two sittings rather than a novel requiring long-term commitment.

Can I read it without a background in science fiction?

Yes. The pacing is direct and the scenes concentrated, and it does not depend on an elaborate setting, so newcomers can follow the plot. If reading the English original, skip unfamiliar words at first and prioritize the story's direction.

Why is it worth paying attention to the author's historical context?

Williams was active in mid-twentieth-century American popular science fiction magazines. Knowing this context helps explain the work's length, pacing, and ending, and allows a more objective view of ideas marked by their era.

Comments

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About the author

Williams, Robert Moore, 1907-1977 Author

Robert Moore Williams (1907–1977) was an American science fiction writer; available public information about him is limited. This library holds nine of his works, including Thompson's Cat, New Lamps, The Lost Warship, Sinister Paradise, Publicity Stunt, Be It Ever Thus, The Next Time We Die, and Doomsday Eve. These works are mostly science fiction and fantasy, often set against interstellar voyages, lost warships, doomsday scenarios, and strange paradises. Their plots are tightly paced and their imagination bold, echoing the narrative style of mid-twentieth-century American pulp science fiction magazines. On this Chinese book site his works are categorized under inspirational growth, suggesting that, beyond adventure, some pieces also touch on psychology and personal growth when characters face hardship and choice. Overall, Williams is known for short stories and popular novels, skilled at building suspense and a sense of wonder.