The Book: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Book: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Book is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Shaara, Michael (1928–1988).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Book" by Michael Shaara is a science fiction narrative written in the early to mid-20th century. The story follows the journey of a young navigator named Beauclaire as he embarks on his first mission into a mysterious cosmic phenomenon known as the Hole in Cygnus. He takes over a ship from the seasoned and troubled crewman Billy Wyatt, who is nearing the end of his career, and together with Cooper, an unpredictable crew member, they explore a planet hidden within the dust cloud, uncovering the lives and culture of its inhabitants. As Beauclaire arrives at the planet, he becomes fascinated by its people, who seem unnaturally calm and lacking curiosity about their world, even in the face of meteor strikes that have ravaged their land. As he learns their language and interacts with them, he discovers they possess a unique book that serves as their spiritual guide, preaching acceptance of pain and the futility of seeking divinity. While Wyatt finds solace in the beauty of the planet and his bond with a local woman named Donna, Beauclaire grapples with the existential implications of his discoveries and the inherent longing of humanity to search for meaning among the stars. The narrative weaves themes of purpose, human nature, and the contrast between the vastness of the universe and the simplicity of existence.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Book
- Author credits: Shaara, Michael (1928–1988)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Science Fiction
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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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