The Masked World

Jack Williamson (John Stewart Williamson)Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.7

Word count: 7.2K 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 Masked World by Jack WilliamsonAuthor: Williamson, Jack, 1908-2006,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 13, 2016

Editor's review

Jack Williamson was a major figure in twentieth-century American science fiction. The Masked World is distributed free through Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. According to the available information, it is classified under American and Canadian literature, indicating that the text has a dual identity as both science fiction and national literature. For Chinese readers, the value of this book lies in gaining low-cost access to the narrative style and imaginative approach of early science fiction; it works well as an introductory sample for understanding the English-language science fiction tradition. Because the available information provides only bibliographic details and no plot summary, readers should not come to it with specific story expectations and should instead treat it as an electronic text open to free exploration. In terms of reading situations, it suits segmented reading during commutes, before bed, or on digital reading devices, and it is also suitable for English learners as extensive reading material. Note that the original book is in English, so Chinese readers need some English reading ability or should use a dictionary and translation tools alongside it.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want low-cost access to original English science fiction
Students interested in researching early American science fiction
Self-learners who need English extensive reading materials
People who like fragmented reading on electronic devices

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners with no English reading ability
Readers expecting a Chinese translation or a heavily annotated edition
Readers interested only in contemporary science fiction

Reading tips

First skim the opening chapters to gauge the language difficulty, then decide whether to read intensively or extensively.
Read with a dictionary or translation tool and note new words and science-fictional concepts as you go.
After each chapter, retell the content in two or three sentences to check your comprehension.
Read it alongside other works by the same author to observe changes in his writing style.

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 there a Chinese translation of this book?

According to the available information, the book was released in English on Project Gutenberg, and no Chinese translation is mentioned. Chinese readers need to read it in English directly or use translation tools for assistance.

Do Project Gutenberg books cost money?

Project Gutenberg is a provider of free ebooks, and its resources are generally available at no cost. For specific download methods and terms of use, refer to the platform's own instructions; readers do not need to pay commercial book prices.

Is this book suitable for English beginners?

The available information does not provide text-difficulty details, so an accurate judgment is not possible. Generally speaking, early science fiction may contain considerable description and older-style expressions, so English beginners should try the opening section first before deciding whether to continue.

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About the author

Jack Williamson (John Stewart Williamson) Author · American · 1908–2006

Jack Williamson (born John Stewart Williamson, 1908–2006) was an American science fiction writer, often counted among the important early authors of the genre and known as one of its "deans." He began publishing in 1928 with The Metal Man and wrote for more than seventy years, producing over fifty novels, including The Folded Hand and Human. His work often deals with space exploration, future technology, and the human condition, as reflected in the titles held here: The Cosmic Express, The Masked World, The Pygmy Planet, and Salvage in Space. He received the Hugo and Nebula Awards, was named a Science Fiction Grand Master in 1976, and remained active in his later years, winning another Hugo Award, leaving a lasting influence on later science fiction writing.