Perfect Control by Richard Stockham
QR code
"Perfect Control" by Richard Stockham is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. The narrative takes place in a future where space travel is a reality, exploring themes of adaptation and psychological impacts of prolonged isolation in space. The story follows Colonel Halter as he attempts to persuade the crew of the derelict starship Alpha to return to Earth after spending nearly seventy-five years in deep space. The plot
unfolds as Colonel Halter communicates with the aging crew aboard the Alpha, who have become deeply accustomed to life in space, and are reluctant to abandon their existence. Through tense exchanges, Halter learns about their psychological adjustments and their fears regarding life on Earth, which have left them scarred by memories of conflict and violence. Each member, while initially resistant to returning, ultimately reveals aspects of their humanity and contributions to science and art, which are valuable to society. The climax reveals the captain's struggle with control over the crew and the ship's fate, but as the story progresses, the crew's desires for purpose and connection lead them toward a path of reintegration into society, highlighting the importance of community and engagement with the world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Stockham, Richard |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Hunter, Mel, 1927-2004 |
| Title | Perfect Control |
| Series Title | Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction January 1955. |
| Credits |
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 86.6 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 31985 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-31985-8 |
| Release Date | Apr 14, 2010 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 171 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!