War No. 81-Q by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger

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About this eBook

Author Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony, 1913-1966
Title War No. 81-Q
Original Publication New York City: Ballantine Books, 1928, reprint 1979.
Series Title The Instrumentality of Mankind
Note "[T]his story was later rewritten; this is the original."
Note Reading ease score: 73.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits Alex White & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net
Summary "War No. 81-Q" by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, published under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith, is a science fiction short story that first appeared in a high school publication in the late 1920s. Set in a futuristic world of 2127 A.D., the story explores the absurdity and mechanics of warfare in a future dominated by technology and strategic control, particularly focusing on aerial combat using remotely piloted ships. The narrative centers on a war between the United American Nations and the Mongolian Alliance, specifically over the Radiant Heat Monopoly. As the two sides prepare for a highly regulated and peculiar war with strict rules governing combatants, spectators eagerly anticipate the spectacle. The young pilot, Jack Bearden, unexpectedly finds himself in command of multiple ships during this unusual aerial battle. His initially overwhelming task leads to a series of chaotic and accidental maneuvers that ultimately result in the destruction of the enemy's ships. The outcome declares Bearden victorious and heralds him as a hero, spotlighting themes of chance, the folly of war, and the blurring of human presence in combat. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject War stories
Category Text
EBook-No. 74098
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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