Watch

Sawyer, Robert J., 1960-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 175 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.Watch (First 25,000 words) by Robert J. SawyerAuthor: Sawyer, Robert J., 1960-,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Aug 8, 2010

Editor's review

This book is the first 25,000 words of Watch, a novel by the Canadian science fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer. It is a serialized or preview text, not a complete story. Its value lies in letting readers experience Sawyer's narrative rhythm, character setup, and world-building at low cost: the opening usually presents a suspenseful hook quickly, drives the plot through dialogue, and plants seeds related to technology, consciousness, or social issues. For longtime Sawyer readers, it is an early entry into a new story; for new readers, it can help them decide whether the full book is worth following. Note that the preview stops at a key point in the plot, with character arcs and the core mystery undeveloped, so reading it is like watching a trailer rather than the full film.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Existing readers of Robert J. Sawyer and science fiction fans
Cautious readers who want to sample before committing to the full book
Writing enthusiasts studying how science fiction openings work
Genre fiction readers who like fast-paced suspenseful openings

Not a good fit for

Readers who want a complete story in one sitting and dislike unfinished excerpts
Readers who need full character arcs and a closed ending
Beginners who have difficulty reading English science fiction

Reading tips

Treat it as a sample rather than a complete work, and note before reading that it is the first 25,000 words.
Note the suspense and character relationships introduced at the start, and after finishing decide whether the full book is worth buying or borrowing.
If using it for writing study, analyze how the author establishes conflict and information pacing in the first few pages.
After reading, compare it with the openings of Sawyer's other novels to see how his narrative techniques continue or change.

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 a complete novel?

No. According to the information, this book is the first 25,000 words of Watch and is a sample or preview, so the story is unfinished. To read the complete plot, you need to find the full edition; this text should not be treated as the whole book.

Can I read this without having read other Sawyer works?

Yes. A preview usually establishes characters and situations independently and does not rely on previous works. Some of Sawyer's novels share a worldview or thematic concerns, however, so if you are interested afterward, you can read his representative works to understand his creative development.

Where does the preview stop, and will that affect understanding?

The preview generally ends when the plot reaches a key point, with the core mystery and the characters' fates unrevealed, so it will clearly feel unfinished. This is normal for preview texts; readers should adjust expectations and treat it as a basis for deciding whether to continue.

Is this text suitable for practicing English reading?

Yes, but note that it is literary narrative with colloquial dialogue and science fiction terminology. Read it once first to grasp the plot, then closely read unfamiliar expressions; if your vocabulary is limited, use a dictionary or bilingual reference materials.

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About the author

Sawyer, Robert J., 1960- Author · Canadian · 1960

Robert J. Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer born in 1960. One of his works has won the Hugo Award, and his representative books include Calculating God and Starplex, while Wake and Watch are also included in this library's collection. His writing is known for scientific speculation and philosophical reflection, often exploring consciousness, cognition, and technological development, with plots that combine imaginative reach and readability. Because public information is limited, details about his education, writing career, and other honors are not elaborated here; readers may turn to the works mentioned above to understand his style and his influence in contemporary science fiction.