Return to Pleasure Island

Doctorow, Cory, 1971-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 65K words
Chapters: 7

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.Return to Pleasure Island by Cory DoctorowAuthor: Doctorow, Cory, 1971-,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 20, 2005

Editor's review

A short science fiction piece by Cory Doctorow, included in Project Gutenberg and classified under American and Canadian literature. The story borrows the classic image of Pleasure Island, reexamining a childhood fantasy site through an adult lens, with a reflective undertone on entertainment, desire, and growing up. Doctorow's narration is brisk and his premise inventive; he often slips observations on technology and society inside a light fantasy shell, and the length suits a single sitting. While reading, note the metaphor behind the premise: how does the individual hold their ground when pleasure is organized and consumed. This book suits fans of short science fiction, readers who want to practice English with short fiction, and readers drawn to fantasy and social allegory; those expecting a sprawling world or a traditional adventure may find it underdeveloped.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Fans of short science fiction who want an inventive English-language piece
English reading learners who prefer short, fast-paced texts
Literary readers interested in fantasy allegory and social metaphor
Readers of Doctorow who want to catch up on his early short fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers of deep science fiction who expect sprawling worlds and complex premises
Readers who prefer traditional adventure narratives with complete plots
Readers who struggle greatly with English originals and won't use辅助 tools

Reading tips

Read the short story in one go first, then revisit the key premise and trace the metaphor
Note how Pleasure Island's function changes through the story to follow the theme
Compare with the classic Pleasure Island image and consider how this book rewrites it
If English reading is hard, skim paragraph meaning first, then closely read dialogue and key scenes

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 novel a full-length work or a short story?

It is a short story, not long, suitable for reading in one or two sittings. The story unfolds around a single premise at a brisk pace and requires no long-term commitment, making it good for commutes or bedtime reading.

Can I understand it without having read the related classic work?

Yes. The story borrows the familiar Pleasure Island image but mainly relies on its own premise, not on prior reading. Knowing the image's common meanings helps you appreciate the rewrite, but basic understanding does not depend on it.

Is this book suitable for practicing English reading?

Fairly suitable. It is short and fast-paced, easy to stay motivated with. But it contains fantasy premises and metaphorical expression, so read through for plot first, then closely read key passages, guessing unfamiliar words from context.

Comments

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About the author

Doctorow, Cory, 1971- Author

Cory Doctorow (1971– ) is a Canadian science fiction writer, journalist and internet activist known for young adult science fiction and writing on internet culture. Thirteen of his works are held in the collection, including Little Brother, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Makers, Eastern Standard Tribe, A Place So Foreign and Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. His novels often centre on young people growing up and resisting digital surveillance and corporate power, with fast pacing and close engagement with real technological issues, combining entertainment with social critique; the nonfiction Ebooks: Neither E, Nor Books discusses digital publishing and copyright. Because public information is limited, his education, awards and specific biography are not detailed here, but his work has had a notable influence on English-language young adult science fiction and writing about internet culture.