Counterweight by Jerry Sohl

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About this eBook

Author Sohl, Jerry, 1913-2002
Title Counterweight
Note Reading ease score: 75.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "Counterweight" by Jerry Sohl is a science fiction novel that was published in the late 1950s. Set during a time of burgeoning space exploration, the story focuses on the societal dynamics and psychological pressures faced by individuals aboard a space vessel traveling to a new planet, Antheon. The narrative delves into themes of human nature, particularly the darker impulses that may arise under extreme conditions. The novel follows Keith Ellason, a trained observer, who is sent aboard the "Weblor II" to document the colonists' journey to Antheon. As tensions rise among the passengers, triggered by a series of thefts and assaults by a figure known as Red Mask, Ellason witnesses the disintegration of order and the emergence of violence amid the confinement of space. In a twist, it is revealed that the chaos was orchestrated by a crew member, Harrel Critten, who poses as Red Mask, a scapegoat designed to absorb the passengers' frustrations and fears. This engineered conflict serves to prevent violence among the colonists, putting to the test the concepts of control and societal stability in the face of isolation. Ultimately, the book critiques human behavior and the fragility of social structures when placed under duress. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject Psychological fiction
Subject Crime -- Fiction
Subject Journalists -- Fiction
Subject Interstellar travel -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 60713
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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