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

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
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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.


