Do Unto Others

Mark Irvin CliftonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 5

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.Do Unto Others by Mark CliftonAuthor: Clifton, Mark, 1906-1963,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 29, 2010

Editor's review

Mark Clifton's "Do Unto Others" is a short science fiction story in English, classified under American and Canadian literature, and distributed by Project Gutenberg. The title draws on the ethical precept "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," a kind of title that in science fiction shorts often points to speculation about human nature, rules, or relations with others. Clifton's science fiction often enters through everyday scenes and then gradually reveals the anomalies in the setup; the pieces are short with concentrated turns, suitable for reading in one sitting. As a work from the early science fiction magazine era, its language is plain and its information density not high, so it reads easily and can serve as a sample of mid-twentieth-century English-language science fiction shorts. For science fiction teaching or reading groups, the text is moderate in length with clear issues, convenient for discussion around ethical choices and narrative turns. Note the ideas and modes of expression of its time; read it in light of its publication era rather than judging it simply by contemporary standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers new to English science fiction who want to start with short stories
Organizers of science fiction reading groups or classroom discussions
Those interested in mid-twentieth-century English-language science fiction shorts
Learners who need short English original texts for extensive reading practice

Not a good fit for

Science fiction readers who prefer long-form worldbuilding and complex setups
Readers expecting contemporary technological detail and hard science fiction extrapolation
Readers unaccustomed to the narrative style of early magazine science fiction

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot turns, then revisit how the title and ending echo each other.
After reading, write down your understanding of the title's ethical proposition, then discuss and compare with others.
Read alongside other early science fiction shorts to observe similarities and differences in period writing styles.
English learners can read once without looking up words, then organize vocabulary and expressions on the second pass.

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 work a novel or a short story?

According to the Project Gutenberg record, this book is a single work of shorter length, within the reading volume of a short story; it can usually be completed in one or two readings and suits fragmented time or reading group selections.

What is the relationship between the title and the story?

The title quotes the ethical formulation "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," usually suggesting the story revolves around ways of treating others or rules. The material provides no plot summary; how exactly it echoes the title must be based on the main text, and you can enter the reading with this question in mind.

Can I understand it without a science fiction reading background?

Yes. The language is plain and the work short, and the setup usually unfolds in everyday scenes without relying on extensive background knowledge. First-time readers need only read through in order and pay attention to information at the turning points to grasp the gist.

What should I note when reading the electronic edition?

Project Gutenberg provides a free electronic text that can be opened in common reading software. It is advisable to use a font with good English typesetting and to save your reading progress; for classroom or reading group use, you can print it in advance or use split-screen comparison for discussion.

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About the author

Mark Irvin Clifton Author · American · 1906–1963

Mark Clifton (1906–1963), born Mark Irvin Clifton, was an American science fiction writer and industrial psychologist. He long worked in personnel management, a background that led his science fiction to focus on the tensions between psychology, human nature, and managerial systems. From 1952 he published in magazines such as Astounding; his output was modest but drew consistent attention. His representative works include They'd Rather Be Right, co-written with Frank Riley and winner of the 1955 Hugo Award for Best Novel, along with Eight Keys to Eden, Star, Bright, and Sense from Thought Divide. Eight of his works are collected here. Public information on his early education and specific career is limited. His fiction is notable for its speculative strength and subtle psychological portrayal, using science-fictional premises to explore prejudice, rationality, and group behavior, earning him a distinctive place in 1950s American science fiction.