One Man‘s Poison

Robert SheckleyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 27K 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.One Man's Poison by Robert SheckleyAuthor: Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 18, 2010

Editor's review

"One Man's Poison" is also by Robert Sheckley; its title borrows a proverb to suggest that one man's medicine is another man's poison, naturally pointing to the relativity of value judgments. Sheckley excels at packing abstract propositions into concrete, slightly absurd situations, letting readers find themselves, without realizing it, in a reflective position as they follow the plot. The appeal of this work lies in the tension between a light narrative shell and questions that are anything but light: what counts as useful and what counts as harmful often depends on who is judging and from what position. It is short, suitable as casual reading among science fiction short stories, and also serves well as an introduction when discussing relativism, value conflicts, or satirical technique. While reading, watch for the points where characters' positions shift; that is usually where the author has buried his meaning.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy speculative short science fiction and like to ponder after finishing
General readers interested in topics such as value relativity and standards of judgment
Science fiction fans who want to practice English reading with short texts
Book clubs and writing class participants who need short discussion material

Not a good fit for

Genre fiction readers seeking strong plots and fast-paced action scenes
Readers who want a clear, single conclusion and dislike open interpretation

Reading tips

Before reading, think about the meaning of the proverb in the title; after reading, compare it with your expectations.
Note the passages where judgments flip in the story and trace the author's path of satire.
Read it alongside "Diplomatic Immunity" and compare what each satire targets.

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

What does the proverb in the title mean?

"One man's poison" comes from an English proverb, roughly meaning that something harmful to one person may benefit another. The title prompts readers to consider the relativity of value judgments in the story; the specific meaning needs to be understood in light of the plot.

Is this related to "Diplomatic Immunity"?

Both are short works by Sheckley, released in the same batch on Project Gutenberg, and both have a satirical and speculative flavor in style, but their stories are independent, with no plot order between them; they can be read in any order.

Is it suitable to read in one sitting?

It is short, and reading it in one sitting better captures the full effect of the twist and satire. If time is limited, you can split it into two readings, but before the second reading, it is advisable to quickly review the characters' positions in the first half.

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About the author

Robert Sheckley Author · United States · 1928–2005

Robert Sheckley (1928–2005) was an American science fiction writer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1928, he served with the U.S. military in Korea and later graduated from New York University. He published his first story in 1952 and became known for witty, absurd, and satirical short stories and novels. His work often explores civilization, desire, and the dilemmas brought by technology in an ironic tone, with ingenious plots and often surprising endings. His representative works include Warm, Watchbird, The Status Civilization, Keep Your Shape, Ask a Foolish Question, Cost of Living, Death Wish, and Forever. The library holds 18 of his works. He received the Nebula Award Grand Master title in 2000 and died in 2005. Public information is limited, but his distinctive humor and satire have earned wide attention in the science fiction field.