It Takes a Thief by Walter M. Miller
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"It Takes a Thief" by Walter M. Miller, Jr. is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. The narrative transports readers to a dying Mars, where myth, ritual, and the struggle for survival intertwine. The protagonist, Asir, a young thief, grapples with his dire fate of execution following his transgressions against the tribal order, navigating themes of knowledge, power, and the remnants of a once-great civilization. The story begins
with Asir facing his execution but then shifts as he is unexpectedly spared, banished instead of executed. This turn of events propels him and the cunning Mara, daughter of a powerful kinsman, on an audacious adventure into the sacred vaults of the ancient Martians. As he uncovers the truth about the legendary creature, Big Joe, which guards the technologies needed to rekindle Mars’s dying atmosphere, Asir begins to forge a new identity. The story delves into Asir's struggle for redemption, highlighting the importance of knowledge and the potential to reclaim a lost civilization, all while entangled in a complex relationship with Mara that balances distrust and budding affection. Through their journey, Miller deftly explores the tension between myth and reality, challenging societal norms in pursuit of a greater purpose. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Miller, Walter M., 1923-1996 |
|---|---|
| Title | It Takes a Thief |
| Series Title | Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1952 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.5 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Mars (Planet) -- Fiction |
| Subject | Thieves -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 58673 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-58673-1 |
| Release Date | Jan 11, 2019 |
| Last Update | Jul 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 186 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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