The Fourth Invasion

Lowndes, Robert W., 1916-1998Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 8.4K words
Chapters: 1

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.The Fourth Invasion by Robert W. LowndesAuthor: Lowndes, Robert W., 1916-1998,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 20, 2007

Editor's review

The Fourth Invasion is a science fiction short story by the American writer Robert W. Lowndes (1916–1998), made available as a free ebook by Project Gutenberg. Lowndes was long active in American popular science fiction magazines, and this work embodies the typical appeal of mid-twentieth-century magazine science fiction: an invasion or contact premise, compact length, and emphasis on concept and twist. Its value lies in observing it within the short science fiction tradition—how the author builds suspense, advances the plot, and delivers a resolution within limited space. The ebook is convenient for quick reading and searching, suitable as a sample for science fiction history courses or genre writing reference. Note that public-domain ebooks usually lack modern introductions, so readers must supply background themselves; those expecting lengthy world-building or complex characters of contemporary science fiction may find the length and depth limited.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Genre readers interested in early science fiction short stories
Science fiction fans who want to understand the magazine science fiction tradition
Science fiction writing students using it as a short story structure reference
Readers who need short English texts

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting lengthy world-building and complex characters
Readers who prefer contemporary science fiction styles
Beginners who need detailed annotations and introductions

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the premise and twist, then revisit key passages.
Read alongside chapters on magazine science fiction in science fiction history to understand the genre context.
For writing study, analyze its suspense setup and ending treatment.
After reading, note whether the premise logic is consistent as a discussion point.

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?

Judging from its form in Project Gutenberg, it is a short story, suitable for reading in one or two sessions. The exact length depends on the downloaded electronic text; page counts vary by format.

Do I need to read the first three 'invasions' first?

No. The 'fourth' in the title is an internal premise of the work, not a requirement to read other works first. Reading this story directly is enough to understand it; there is no need to look for so-called predecessors.

Is it suitable for learning English?

It can serve as short English reading material, but the work has the language style of mid-twentieth-century popular magazines, and public-domain ebooks usually lack annotations. It is recommended for readers with some English foundation; judge unfamiliar words from context rather than looking up every one.

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About the author

Lowndes, Robert W., 1916-1998 Author · American · 1916–1998

Robert W. Lowndes (1916–1998) was an American science fiction writer and editor active in the science fiction magazine circles of the mid-twentieth century. Public information about him is limited, and many details of his life remain little known, yet his surviving works and editorial activity still show his place in the genre publishing of the period. Two of his works are held in this collection, The Fourth Invasion and The Troubadour, both science fiction in subject and marked by the imaginative, plot-driven character common to early magazine science fiction. As an editor, he took part in the editorial work of science fiction periodicals over the years and contributed to the publication and circulation of short science fiction; as a writer, his writing and editorial practice reflect each other, embodying the dual identity of author-editor typical of the science fiction field in that era.