It Takes a Thief

Miller, Walter M., 1923-1996Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 44K 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.It Takes a Thief by Walter M. MillerAuthor: Miller, Walter M., 1923-1996,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 11, 2019

Editor's review

Walter M. Miller is known for A Canticle for Leibowitz, and this short story, It Takes a Thief, shows another side of his short science fiction: starting from a light premise, it places the act of "stealing" in a situation requiring special skill, letting readers enjoy suspense and twists within a limited length. The work has the typical character of mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazine stories—clear premise, brisk pacing, neat resolution—relying not on grand spectacle but on a single clever idea to sustain the whole piece. For readers familiar with Miller's long-form style, this is an interesting supplement for observing the range of his work; for readers new to American short science fiction from the Golden Age onward, it is also a length-friendly, accessible entry point. The Project Gutenberg e-book can be finished in one sitting, suitable for a commute or a short bedtime read. Note that it is a short story, not a novel; readers expecting an epic scope should adjust their expectations.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy twentieth-century American short science fiction and clever premises
Fans who have read Miller's long works and want to see his short fiction
Light readers who want to finish a complete science fiction story in a short time
Writing enthusiasts studying short-story structure and twist techniques

Not a good fit for

Science fiction readers expecting grand worldbuilding and long-form narrative
Those uncomfortable with the language style of early English-language science fiction
Readers who prefer hard science fiction technical detail or contemporary settings

Reading tips

Set aside an uninterrupted stretch of time to read it in one sitting, avoiding interruptions that weaken the twist.
After finishing, recall the clues planted at the start and appreciate how the short story uses detail to support its ending.
Read it alongside other works by Miller to observe how he handles long and short forms differently.
If reading the English original, skip period expressions at first and prioritise following the plot.

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 similar in style to A Canticle for Leibowitz?

Quite different. A Canticle for Leibowitz is a long work of grand scope dealing with the survival of civilisation and questions of faith; this short story is lighter, centred on a single clever idea and a twist. Reading the two together actually makes Miller's varied techniques across different lengths more apparent.

How long is the story, and how long does it take to finish?

It is a short story, usually finishable in one bus ride or one bedtime session. It is advisable not to split it over several days, because the suspense and resolution depend on continuity; reading it in one sitting better conveys the author's pacing.

How difficult is the English original?

Overall it is popular science fiction narrative with uncomplicated sentence structures, though it carries mid-twentieth-century habits of expression. Readers with general English reading ability can finish it smoothly, and skipping the occasional period expression will not hinder understanding of the main plot.

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About the author

Miller, Walter M., 1923-1996 Author

Walter M. Miller (1923–1996) was an American science fiction writer. Seven of his works are included in this catalog: Conditionally Human, The Ties That Bind, Death of a Spaceman, Way of a Rebel, The Hoofer, Check and Checkmate, and It Takes a Thief. Public information about him is limited, and biographical details are difficult to verify. These titles nonetheless show that he worked mainly in the short-story form, dealing with space adventure, human predicaments, and moral choice. His narratives are concise and often marked by grim irony and reflection. Most of these pieces appeared during the mid-twentieth-century golden age of science fiction magazines, balancing technical speculation with psychological portraiture and embedding concerns about civilization and individual fate within the popular framework of genre fiction, leaving a modest influence on later short science fiction.