Definition by Damon Knight
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"Definition" by Damon Knight is a science fiction short story penned in the early 1950s. The narrative unfolds in a distant future where humankind navigates the vastness of space, grappling with encounters that challenge their understanding of identity and consciousness. At its core, the story delves into the complexities of human nature, particularly when faced with an enigmatic group known as the Kassids, who embody a philosophical concept that could dramatically alter
human existence. The plot follows Charles and Midge Samson, a couple stationed in a segment of space known as Slice 103. When they receive a troubling report about a fellow traveler, Jackson, who has seemingly abandoned his post after a charismatic encounter with the Kassids, the Samsons are tasked with investigating this phenomenon. As they delve deeper, they discover that the Kassids are not a traditional race or empire but rather an idea that challenges the very foundation of what it means to be human. Through their exploration, they confront profound questions about love, peace, and the potential existential threat posed by a powerful, unifying belief system, ultimately leading to a painful realization about the nature of humanity and its place in the universe. The story culminates in a moral quandary about the essence of progress and the implications of change, leaving readers to ponder the weight of the philosophical revelations presented. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Knight, Damon, 1922-2002 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Dreany, E. Joseph, 1908-1961 |
| Title | Definition |
| Original Publication | United States: Better Publications, Inc.,1952. |
| Series Title | Produced from Startling Stories, February 1953 |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 82.7 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Human-alien encounters -- Fiction |
| Subject | Space travelers -- Fiction |
| Subject | Spouses -- Fiction |
| Subject | Proselytizing -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 69009 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-69009-4 |
| Release Date | Sep 18, 2022 |
| Last Update | Oct 19, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 233 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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