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Classic Literature

The Repairman: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Repairman: 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

The Repairman is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Harrison, Harry (1925–2012).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Repairman" by Harry Harrison is a science fiction novella written in the late 1950s. This work follows an interstellar trouble-shooting mechanic, tasked with the daunting job of repairing an ancient and complicated Mark III hyperspace beacon located on a distant planet. The story explores themes of adventure, cultural misunderstandings, and the challenges of navigating interspecies communication and cooperation. The protagonist, a seasoned repairman known as the Old Man’s trouble-shooter, finds himself reluctantly assigned to fix the malfunctioning beacon, which is wrapped in a mysterious, ancient stone pyramid inhabited by the native reptilian Centaurians. As he unfurls the history of the beacon and its impact on the local species, he devises a covert plan to communicate and negotiate with the Centaurians without inciting hostility. Using ingenious tactics, such as donning a disguise and leveraging the local culture, he manages to restore the beacon while ensuring the natives are placated, ultimately securing a win-win resolution. The story combines humor, ingenuity, and social commentary, making it a captivating read for fans of speculative fiction.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Repairman
  • Author credits: Harrison, Harry (1925–2012)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Adventure
  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
  • Science Fiction

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.

Sources

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