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  • Book cover of But, I Don't Think

    In "But, I Don't Think," Randall Garrett presents a thought-provoking exploration of the intricacies of human reasoning and the often convoluted path of decision-making. Through a unique blend of humor and philosophical inquiry, the narrative challenges readers to examine their beliefs and assumptions. The book is characterized by Garrett's distinctive prose, which seamlessly weaves together anecdotal illustrations and satirical commentary, engaging readers in a dialogue about the philosophical underpinnings of thought itself. Set against the backdrop of the mid-20th century, the work reflects the era's burgeoning interest in cognitive science and existential inquiry, making it a pivotal read within the context of modern philosophical literature. Randall Garrett, an acclaimed author renowned for his contributions to speculative fiction and mystery, frequently drew inspiration from his diverse experiences in the realms of art, literature, and philosophy. His academic background and keen interest in the human psyche undoubtedly influenced the creation of this book, as he sought to illuminate the complexities inherent in the human experience. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches the narrative but also invites readers to traverse the boundaries of conventional thought. I enthusiastically recommend "But, I Don't Think" to anyone seeking a stimulating examination of cognition and the subjective nature of reality. Garrett's sharp wit and insightful musings will challenge your perceptions, making it an essential read for scholars, philosophers, and casual readers alike who are keen to rethink their understanding of thought. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

  • Book cover of The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents
    George Barton

     · 2007

    The romance of war in its most thrilling form is exemplified in this narrative of the adventures of “The World’s Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents.” Much has been published upon the subject of espionage, and the memoirs and secret histories of the courts of Europe give us instances of men and women who have gained favor and money, if not honor and glory, by selling back-stairs gossip concerning their fellow creatures; but the aim of the present work has been rather to relate the big exploits of those who faced great personal danger and risked their lives for the sake of flag and country. Each story is complete in itself, and yet forms a link in the chain of narratives which illustrates the startling and unexpected manner in which battles have been lost and won through the shrewdness and the courage of military spies at various times in different countries of the world. All spies are not admirable. Indeed, some whose deeds are herein related seem despicable. The use of the word “spy” in this series is in its broadest, and usually its best, sense. In all of the great wars of history there have been spies, scouts, emissaries and others still with no very well defined status, who have rendered invaluable service to their governments. A spy is liable to death; a scout, if captured, has the rights of a prisoner of war, but an emissary is rather political than military, and is sent to influence secretly the opposition rather than to bring information concerning the movements of troops. There are spies and spies. Just where the line is to be drawn must depend largely upon the personal view-point of the reader. Some of those who have been engaged in hazardous military exploits are looked upon as among the world’s greatest heroes; others who have abused the hospitality of their entertainers in order to betray them have earned never-ending obloquy. Everything depends upon the circumstances and the point of view. Human nature has been the same in all ages. We are disposed to justify and glorify the military spy who risks his life for our own country and our own cause, and to condemn and abuse the one who is enlisted in the service of the enemy. Generally speaking, there is a natural repugnance to the professional spy in times of war, who is regarded as akin to the paid informer in times of peace. But the tendency is to applaud the real soldier who is willing to depart from the strict lines of military duty in order to serve his country. Napoleon, who can scarcely be called a scrupulous man, even by his most ardent admirers, refused to bestow the medal of honor on his chief spy. “Money, as much as you like,” he exclaimed, “but the cross—never!” At the time of the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo by the late Brigadier-General Frederick Funston a question arose regarding the ethics of the means employed by some of the members of the troops under his command on that occasion. It arose in a lecture before the law class at the University of the Philippines. Justice Carson, of the Supreme Court, was asked to enlighten the students on this point. Instead of doing so, he wrote and asked General Funston’s view of the matter. The reply of the American soldier may be accepted as the authorized military view of the question. General Funston wrote: “In a nutshell, the legal status of all those engaged in the expedition referred to was that of spies, and as such they could not have claimed immunity from the usual fate of spies. While we were not disguised for the purpose of obtaining information, the fact that we penetrated the enemy’s lines under false colors would have justified treating us as such. “Having acknowledged that our status was that of Spies, I wish to call attention to a popular, erroneous belief that spies are violators of the laws of war simply because they are spies and in disguise. It is safe to say that there never has been a war in which both sides did not use spies; in fact, the principal military nations use them in time of peace. Spies are punished, not because there is anything morally reprehensible in their work, but because it is desired to make their occupations so dangerous that it will be difficult to find men to undertake the risks involved. “The status of the spy in our own history cannot better be shown than in the fact that Nathan Hale, the spy of our own Revolution, whose impressive statue stands in New York and whose last words on the gallows were: ‘My chief regret is that I have but one life to give for my country,’ is one of the greatest of our national heroes. “Washington has been regarded always as one of the most scrupulous of men, but he did not hesitate to hold as a prisoner the British general Prescott, captured by Colonel Barton of the Rhode Island militia and a few men, all disguised as non-combatants, who penetrated the British lines under false colors. “Although the use of spies is not a violation of the laws of war, there are certain acts that are recognized as such and may be punished by death: The violation of the flag of truce; breaking a truce; violation of parole; the use of poison; killing of prisoners of war to prevent their recapture, and hoisting the hospital flag over a place not a hospital. But all these imply moral obliquity, and I have never heard of any one being rewarded or having a monument erected to him for having been guilty of any one of them. “The Filipinos are about the last people in the world who can question the ethics of entering the enemy’s lines in disguise. As a veteran of the war you know that, disguised as non-combatants, their officers and soldiers are among us all the time, and that if we had enforced the law strictly relative to spies we would have been hanging men all the time.” The halo of romance hovers in a special manner over women spies, and it is interesting to note that the United States furnishes the most conspicuous examples of this class in the persons of Belle Boyd, the Confederate girl who saved Stonewall Jackson; and Emma Edmonds, the Union spy, whose adventures could scarcely be duplicated in the pages of fiction. The story of a third American woman is related in this volume—Lydia Darrah, the gentle and brave Quakeress who saved Washington’s army from destruction. She was not a spy in the accepted sense of the word, and it would be impossible to imagine a greater contrast than is presented between the colonial girl and the two women of the Civil War, but the service she rendered the young and struggling nation cannot be overestimated. A book of this character would not be complete without the stories of Nathan Hale and Major André, the American and the Briton, each young and gallant, and each giving up his life for his country. In a general way, their exploits are familiar, yet it may be found that a new light has been turned upon certain phases of the sacrifices which they both so cheerfully made for the causes they represented. An effort has been made to confine this work to the operations of military spies, but in possibly two instances the rule has been relaxed in order to present phases of that form of diplomacy which is so closely allied with war as to be part of it. Most of the incidents are interwoven with the history of the countries to which they relate, and are part of the archives of the State, War and Navy Departments of these nations. Taken all in all, the pages of fiction contain few things more fascinating or thrilling than these fact stories.

  • Book cover of Unwise Child
  • Book cover of Lord Darcy

    Detective stories set in the present day but in an alternative world where the great powers are the Angevin Empire ruled by descendants of Richard the Lion-hearted, and the Polish Empire. Omnibus edition includes the complete novel Too many magicians, and two collections of short stories.

  • Book cover of The Greatest Works of Randall Garrett

    Musaicum Books presents to you this unique collection, designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Psi-Power Series: Brain Twister The Impossibles Supermind Novels: Pagan Passions Anything You Can Do... Quest of the Golden Ape Unwise Child Short Stories: The Highest Treason Despoilers of the Golden Empire But, I Don't Think A Spaceship Named McGuire The Eyes Have It Nor Iron Bars a Cage Damned If You Don't By Proxy The Foreign Hand-Tie The Penal Cluster Hail to the Chief His Master's Voice The Judas Valley Cum Grano Salis ...Or Your Money Back Anchorite The Bramble Bush The Unnecessary Man The Asses of Balaam With No Strings Attached A World by the Tale Dead Giveaway Psichopath Suite Mentale The Man Who Hated Mars Thin Edge Instant of Decision Heist Job on Thizar Fifty Per Cent Prophet The Destroyers Hanging by a Thread What the Left Hand Was Doing Belly Laugh In Case of Fire The Measure of a Man Time Fuze Viewpoint ...After a Few Words

  • Book cover of Brain Twister

    "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention. Both men were drunk at the time, which explains a good deal, and only one has ever sobered up. A matter for constant contention between the collaborators is which one. They have been collaborating for some time now, and have devised an interesting method of work: Mr. Garrett handles the verbs, the adverbs and the interjections, Mr. Janifer the nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. Conjunctions are a matter of joint decision, and in the case of a tie, the entire game is replayed at Fenway Park, Boston, early in the following year. BRAIN TWISTER was fifteen years in the making, of which time three days were spent in the actual writing. When the book was finished, both authors relaxed in the mutual pleasure of nervous breakdowns, from which it is not certain that either has ever recovered. Mr. Garrett is a large, roundish fellow with a beard. He wears flowered vests and always carries a small talisman which no one has ever seen. Mr. Janifer is a somewhat shorter and thinner type, with a shorter and thinner beard. His vests are in solid colors, he wears horn-rimmed glasses because he has always done so, and he is never found without a souvenir subway token from the City of New York. The personal lives of the authors differ widely. Mr. Garrett's hobbies, for instance, include such sports as close-order drill and river pollution. Mr. Janifer, a less active type, prefers sedentary games such as humming or blinking. Mr. Garrett is engaged to an exotically beautiful creature, and the two plan to be married as soon as they run out of excuses. Mr. Janifer, on the other hand, is fascinated by women, and hopes some day to meet one. Brain Twister Mark Phillips A shorter version of this work appeared in Astounding Science Fiction under the title of That Sweet Little Old Lady.

  • Book cover of Despoilers of the Golden Empire

    I In the seven centuries that had elapsed since the Second Empire had been founded on the shattered remnants of the First, the nobles of the Imperium had come slowly to realize that the empire was not to be judged by the examples of its predecessor. The First Empire had conquered most of the known universe by political intrigue and sheer military strength; it had fallen because that same propensity for political intrigue had gained over every other strength of the Empire, and the various branches and sectors of the First Empire had begun to use it against one another. The Second Empire was politically unlike the First; it tried to balance a centralized government against the autonomic governments of the various sectors, and had almost succeeded in doing so. But, no matter how governed, there are certain essentials which are needed by any governmental organization. Without power, neither Civilization nor the Empire could hold itself together, and His Universal Majesty, the Emperor Carl, well knew it. And power was linked solidly to one element, one metal, without which Civilization would collapse as surely as if it had been blasted out of existence. Without the power metal, no ship could move or even be built; without it, industry would come to a standstill.

  • Book cover of Unwise Child

    After two unsuccessful and seemingly random attempts on his life in the space of as many hours, Michael Raphael Gabriel finds himself called on to act as engineering officer on a new type of spacecraft designed for one mission only, to carry a giant computer to a distant destination before it can destroy the Earth. But once underway he discovers there is a murderer on board and the computer has gone crazy in... Unwise Child!

  • Book cover of RANDAL GARRETT Ultimate Collection: Space Adventures, Supernatural Mysteries & Other SF Tales

    The RANDAL GARRETT Ultimate Collection: Space Adventures, Supernatural Mysteries & Other SF Tales showcases the diverse range of science fiction writings by author Randall Garrett. Known for his imaginative storytelling and detailed world-building, Garrett's works often combine elements of space exploration, supernatural occurrences, and thought-provoking concepts. The collection features a variety of short stories and novellas that captivate readers with their unique plots and engaging narratives, making it a must-read for fans of classic science fiction literature. Garrett's literary style is characterized by his vivid descriptions and intricate plot developments that keep readers eagerly turning pages. His ability to blend genres and explore complex themes adds depth to each story, creating a rich and rewarding reading experience. Through his exploration of futuristic technologies and otherworldly phenomena, Garrett invites readers to contemplate the possibilities of the universe and the nature of humanity. Those interested in thought-provoking science fiction tales that push the boundaries of imagination will find the RANDAL GARRETT Ultimate Collection a captivating and worthwhile read.

  • Book cover of To Make A Hero

    To Make a Hero by Randall Garrett is a captivating science fiction novel first published in 1965. Known for its imaginative storytelling and intriguing concepts, the book explores themes of heroism, identity, and societal expectations. In To Make a Hero, Garrett introduces readers to a futuristic world where the concept of heroism is both revered and manipulated. The story follows the protagonist, a character caught in the complexities of a society that places immense value on heroic deeds and public perception. As the protagonist navigates this world, they encounter challenges that test their understanding of what it means to be a true hero. Garrett’s novel combines elements of adventure and social commentary, weaving a narrative that questions the nature of heroism and the impact of societal expectations on individual identity. The book is noted for its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes. To Make a Hero stands out for its exploration of the concept of heroism beyond traditional stereotypes, offering a fresh perspective on the qualities that define a hero. It is a must-read for fans of science fiction and those interested in stories that delve into the complexities of personal and societal values.