If at First You Don't...: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
If at First You Don't...: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
If at First You Don't... is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Brudy, John.
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"If at First You Don't..." by John Brudy is a satirical science fiction novella likely written in the early 21st century. The book focuses on the bureaucratic and absurd challenges surrounding the fate of the satellite '58 Beta, which becomes a symbol of pride and contention among various stakeholders in the U.S. government and public. It delves into themes of nostalgia, historical significance, and the often comical nature of administrative decision-making in the face of trivial yet heated debates. The story follows Amos Jordan, the Secretary for Cislunar Navigation, as he is drawn into a chaotic political fracas regarding the fate of the aging satellite '58 Beta, which is on a collision course with the Earth's atmosphere. The narrative unfolds through Jordan's interactions with his assistant, Clements, and various political figures, including the obstinate Senator Darius, who insists on preserving Beta as a tribute to early space exploration. As public sentiment rises, leading to student riots and congressional debates, Jordan grapples with the absurdity of the situation, ultimately leveraging a little-known regulation to classify Beta as dangerous debris, allowing it to be decommissioned without further fuss. The finale humorously twists into a bureaucratic triumph with the successful re-launching of '58 Beta after taking into account numerous administrative mishaps, culminating in a reflection on the cyclical nature of power and historical preservation in a spacefaring age.
Book and edition facts
- Title: If at First You Don't...
- Author credits: Brudy, John
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Political fiction
- Satellites -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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