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Classic Literature

Perfect Control: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Perfect Control: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Perfect Control is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Stockham, Richard.

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Perfect Control" by Richard Stockham is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. The narrative takes place in a future where space travel is a reality, exploring themes of adaptation and psychological impacts of prolonged isolation in space. The story follows Colonel Halter as he attempts to persuade the crew of the derelict starship Alpha to return to Earth after spending nearly seventy-five years in deep space. The plot unfolds as Colonel Halter communicates with the aging crew aboard the Alpha, who have become deeply accustomed to life in space, and are reluctant to abandon their existence. Through tense exchanges, Halter learns about their psychological adjustments and their fears regarding life on Earth, which have left them scarred by memories of conflict and violence. Each member, while initially resistant to returning, ultimately reveals aspects of their humanity and contributions to science and art, which are valuable to society. The climax reveals the captain's struggle with control over the crew and the ship's fate, but as the story progresses, the crew's desires for purpose and connection lead them toward a path of reintegration into society, highlighting the importance of community and engagement with the world.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Perfect Control
  • Author credits: Stockham, Richard
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
  • Category: Short Stories

Read this edition

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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