The Man Who Played to Lose: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Man Who Played to Lose: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Man Who Played to Lose is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Janifer, Laurence M. (1933–2002).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Man Who Played to Lose" by Laurence M. Janifer is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around themes of guerrilla warfare, political instability, and the complexities of leadership in a democratic setup on an alien planet called Wohlen. It explores the intricacies of human behavior and the consequences of decisions made in the throes of conflict. The protagonist, Ephraim Carboy, is sent to Wohlen after a civil war has erupted, leading to a power struggle between the established government and guerrillas led by the ambitious William F. Sergeant. Carboy, along with General Rawlinson Hollerith of the guerrilla forces, navigates a treacherous landscape filled with intrigue and deception. As the narrative unfolds, Carboy devises a plan to provide the guerrillas with reinforcements and weapons, leading to a significant but costly military victory. However, as tensions rise and the implications of democracy in warfare become evident, Hollerith realizes that they have been set on a path to destruction by the very success they sought. The novel concludes with an insightful reflection on the limitations of democracy as a tool for leadership in times of crisis.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Man Who Played to Lose
- Author credits: Janifer, Laurence M. (1933–2002)
- 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.


