Desire No More

Algirdas Jonas (Algis) BudrysProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 29K 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.Desire No More by Algis BudrysAuthor: Budrys, Algis, 1931-2008,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 7, 2012

Editor's review

This short story comes from the American science fiction writer Algis Budrys and belongs to the middle period of his career. It is compact in length and carries the psychological suspense and social satire common in Golden Age science fiction. The story revolves around the theme of desire and satisfaction, using a science fiction premise to explore deep-seated human obsession, and it delivers both a twist and a piece of reflection within its limited length. As a free Project Gutenberg eBook, it works well as an introductory sample of mid-twentieth-century science fiction short stories and can be finished in one sitting during a commute or lunch break. While reading, pay attention to how the author builds suspense through concise dialogue and scene work, and to how the ending echoes the title. Because the text is the original English version and was published long ago, some expressions bear the marks of their era; readers can understand its place in the development of the science fiction genre without measuring it against the complexity of contemporary long-form science fiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to finish a complete science fiction short story in fragmented time
Newcomers interested in mid-twentieth-century American science fiction
Readers who enjoy psychological suspense and allegories of human nature
Those who want to practice English reading with free public-domain eBooks

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long-form world-building and hard science fiction technical detail
Readers looking for contemporary science fiction style and themes
Those who have significant difficulty reading the original English and do not want to use tools

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot twist, then go back to the opening passages where the foreshadowing is laid
Note the key points where the protagonist's desire changes while reading, and consider the irony of the title
If English reading is difficult, learn the outline of the story first and then read the dialogue sections closely against the original
After finishing, compare it with other Golden Age science fiction short stories to sense the writing style of the era

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 the Project Gutenberg record, this is a short story by Algis Budrys. It is limited in length and can usually be finished in one or two readings, making it suitable for fragmented reading time.

Can I read it if my English is not good?

The text is the original English version and was published long ago, so some wording bears period features. Readers with basic English can use dictionary tools or read a summary first and then compare it with the original, focusing on plot and dialogue.

Why recommend it?

It is short and structurally complete, combining a science fiction premise with reflection on human nature within limited text. As a free public-domain eBook, it is easy to obtain and works well as a sample of mid-period American science fiction short stories.

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About the author

Algirdas Jonas (Algis) Budrys Author · American · 1931–2008

Algis Budrys (1931–2008) was a Lithuanian-American science fiction writer, editor and critic, born in Königsberg, East Prussia, who moved with his family to the United States in 1936. His writing is known for its stark, unsentimental style, often using science fiction premises to explore identity and the subtler reaches of human nature. Seven of his works are held in the collection, including Wall of Crystal, Eye of Night, Citadel, Riya's Foundling, The Barbarians, The Rag and Bone Men, The Stoker and the Stars and Desire No More; their themes frequently involve growth and self-discovery, and they are commonly grouped under inspirational growth in Chinese classifications. He received the Science Fiction Research Association's Pilgrim Award in 2007 and is widely recognized as an outstanding science fiction critic. Public information on his life and work is limited, and the present account rests mainly on the works and award information listed above.