Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith -Vintage Science Fiction Short Story Audiobook human voice

Stories of Futures Past
Stories of Futures Past
1 هزار بار بازدید - 2 ماه پیش - This novelette is up there
This novelette is up there with the greats. Cordwainer Smith's first published story, and a timeless tour de force of worldbuilding, packing in a novel's worth of suggestive science fiction ideas and concepts, many of which are simply strewn almost casually throughout the story like clues, hinting at so much more.

Martel is a Scanner, a man who has undergone a process divorcing him from all his senses apart from sight, making it necessary to scan both his own and his Sentenced-to-More-Than-Death crews' implanted instruments constantly to make sure they are not damaged and working as they need to so they can travel between the settled Earths. This process is done to survive the First Effect of the Pain of Space, which devastates any normal person awake in space. Because of their crucial role for space travel, the Scanners are seen as heroes by the normals, (or the Others as the Scanners call them.)

Even though he spends most of his time trapped inside his own mind as a human reduced to a machine, he also has a loving wife, and the possibility to Cranch, a process which lets him regain his lost senses for a short period each year. And during one of these rare periods, news arrive about a scientist that seemingly has solved the problem of the Pain of Space, which would make the Scanners entire existence obsolete and in vain. Naturally, the Scanner's guild does not take this news sitting down...but the cranched Martel sees it very differently than the other scanners' emotionless logic.

Cordwainer Smith (1913-1966), real name Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, was a notable author who rapidly made a name for himself in the 1950s with his thoughtful SF stories brimming with ideas. His day job was as an expert on Psychological Warfare, and also an expert on China. Fun fact, he was the godson of the very first Chinese president Sun Yat-Sen (before the civil war that led the communists to power). Sun Yat-Sen is revered by both the communists and by the nationalists (Taiwan) as a Chinese national hero.

No background music, by popular demand. Only my voice, croaks, wheezes, and all. Enjoy!
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Stories of Futures Past presents a vintage science fiction short story, narrated by myself, Tom Trussel. An actual, real living human being, warts and all.

Any and all voices and effects are produced live during reading with my actual voice. No obnoxious after effects, synthetic voices or filters used.

English is not my first language. There will be inaccurate accents and the occasional strange pronunciation. No mockery is ever intended.

These stories are also good for English learners / ESL. The full text is right there on the screen in a big and easy to read font. Read along with me. It's great practice!

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Copyright notice:
The written text of this story is in the public domain, as determined by the researchers and transcribers at Project Gutenberg, or it has passed the 95-years-since-publication mark. The story is and should be free for anyone to enjoy.

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2 ماه پیش در تاریخ 1403/04/08 منتشر شده است.
1,050 بـار بازدید شده
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