Occasion for Disaster

Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 392K words
Chapters: 40

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.Occasion for Disaster by Randall Garrett and Laurence M. JaniferAuthor: Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 9, 2009

Editor's review

Occasion for Disaster is a full-length science fiction work co-written by Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. It falls under the category of American and Canadian literature and is distributed free of charge by Project Gutenberg. The novel continues the authors' trademark humorous science fiction approach, building a world full of absurdity through exaggerated plot and witty dialogue; it reads lightly while offering plenty of satirical jabs at reality. Its value lies in giving readers zero-cost access to the popular science fiction writing of mid-twentieth-century America and a feel for the imagination and entertainment spirit of genre literature of that era. As a public-domain eBook, the text is easy to obtain and suits casual fragmented reading on the commute, before bed, or while traveling. There is no need to chase profound philosophical propositions while reading; treat it as a brisk mental game. If you are interested in the humorous branch of Golden Age science fiction, this book is a good introductory sample.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy humorous science fiction
Readers who want free access to public-domain English science fiction
Office workers who need light reading for the commute or before bed
People interested in mid-twentieth-century American popular literature

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking hardcore scientific worldbuilding and technical detail
Readers who prefer serious, profound themes or literary experimentation
Readers who are not comfortable reading in English and have no need for a translated edition

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to see whether the comic rhythm suits your taste, then decide whether to read the whole book.
Use fragmented time to read one or two chapters a day; there is no need for long continuous sessions.
Skip over cultural references or slang when you encounter them and focus first on the overall plot.
After finishing, compare with other works by the same authors to see their habitual techniques in humorous science fiction.

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

Do I need a background in science fiction reading for this book?

No. The work is driven by plot and dialogue, and the scientific setup serves the story's entertainment; beginning readers can keep up. If you are familiar with common tropes of Golden Age science fiction, you will more easily appreciate its parody and humor.

Why is fragmented-time reading recommended?

The book has a brisk pace and relatively independent chapters, making it suitable for short reading sessions on the commute or before bed. There is no need to set aside a long stretch at once; reading in installments actually makes it easier to maintain a relaxed mood and enjoy its entertainment value.

Can I read it if my English is average?

The text is a public-domain English book; the vocabulary and sentence patterns are generally colloquial, but there is still slang and cultural background. Readers with intermediate English reading ability can use dictionary tools; if you want a smoother experience, look for a Chinese translation or read bilingually.

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About the author

Janifer, Laurence M., 1933-2002 Author

Laurence M. Janifer (1933–2002) was an American science fiction writer. Public information about him is limited, and details of his life are rarely covered in Chinese-language sources. The library holds 14 of his works, including Brain Twister, Supermind, The Impossibles, Charley de Milo, Occasion for Disaster, Lost in Translation, Sight Gag, and The Man Who Played to Lose. Judging from these titles, he was skilled at handling science fiction with a light, humorous touch, building plots around bizarre premises with irony and ingenuity; some works belong to series. His brisk, entertaining style earned him a place in the mid-twentieth-century American science fiction magazine and paperback market, and he retains appeal for readers who enjoy traditional humorous science fiction.