War No. 81-Q by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger
"War No. 81-Q" by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, published under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith, is a science fiction short story that first appeared in a high school publication in the late 1920s. Set in a futuristic world of 2127 A.D., the story explores the absurdity and mechanics of warfare in a future dominated by technology and strategic control, particularly focusing on aerial combat using remotely piloted ships. The narrative centers on awar between the United American Nations and the Mongolian Alliance, specifically over the Radiant Heat Monopoly. As the two sides prepare for a highly regulated and peculiar war with strict rules governing combatants, spectators eagerly anticipate the spectacle. The young pilot, Jack Bearden, unexpectedly finds himself in command of multiple ships during this unusual aerial battle. His initially overwhelming task leads to a series of chaotic and accidental maneuvers that ultimately result in the destruction of the enemy's ships. The outcome declares Bearden victorious and heralds him as a hero, spotlighting themes of chance, the folly of war, and the blurring of human presence in combat. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony, 1913-1966 |
|---|---|
| Title | War No. 81-Q |
| Original Publication | New York City: Ballantine Books, 1928, reprint 1979. |
| Series Title | The Instrumentality of Mankind |
| Note | "[T]his story was later rewritten; this is the original." |
| Note | Reading ease score: 73.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Credits | Alex White & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | War stories |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 74098 |
| Release Date | Jul 22, 2024 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 166 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
