The Firing Line: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Firing Line: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Firing Line is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Smith, George O. (George Oliver) (1911–1981).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Firing Line" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written in the early to mid-20th century. The story revolves around themes of revenge, space piracy, and the interplay between technology and human ambition. It explores the life of Mark Kingman, a lawyer entangled with the criminal mastermind Allison Murdoch, who seeks vengeance against a space communication company, Venus Equilateral, after suffering a prior defeat. In the narrative, the ambitious Murdoch escapes imprisonment and approaches Kingman, proposing a plan to take control of Venus Equilateral through illegal means. As they concoct schemes that involve high-tech weaponry and economic manipulation, Murdoch's intentions lead to clashes with the station's personnel, primarily Don Channing, who is determined to thwart Murdoch’s malicious ambitions. The novel contrasts the intelligence of scientific innovation with the moral implications of using such power for personal vendettas. Ultimately, the climax involves a high-stakes confrontation where advanced technology plays a pivotal role, culminating in a dramatic showdown that raises questions about ethics in technological advancements.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Firing Line
- Author credits: Smith, George O. (George Oliver) (1911–1981)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Criminals -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Space pirates -- Fiction
- Space stations -- Fiction
- Weapons -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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.



