Minor Detail: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Minor Detail: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Minor Detail is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Sharkey, Jack (1931–1992).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Minor Detail" by Jack Sharkey is a satirical science fiction short story first published in the late 1950s. The narrative centers around the farcical military endeavors of General "Smiley" Webb and his ambitious plan to deploy troops using an innovative yet absurd contraption called the Whirligig. The story explores themes of military bureaucracy and the folly of over-complicated solutions to fundamental problems of warfare. The plot unfolds with Secretary of Defense James Whitlow's visit to observe General Webb's top-secret project, designed to land soldiers safely in enemy territory without traditional parachutes. Webb's unorthodox method involves subjecting soldiers to extreme centrifugal forces in the Whirligig to prepare them for high-altitude jumps. However, the demonstration goes hilariously awry, leading to a disastrous outcome where the soldiers fall head-first rather than landing safely. The story ends with the general fainting in shock, highlighting the absurdity inherent in his ambitious plans. Through humor and irony, Sharkey critiques military thinking and the push for conflict in a time marked by fragile peace.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Minor Detail
- Author credits: Sharkey, Jack (1931–1992)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
- Science Fiction
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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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