The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith
In a distant future, humanity has colonized other planets and formed the Instrumentality of Mankind, a utopian society where humans live in a state of suspended animation to avoid pain and suffering. The story follows a young man who is awakened from his long sleep and sent on a mission to the planet Delurkia, where he must confront the remnants of humanity's past and the true nature of the Instrumentality.
By Cordwainer Smith · First published 1964 · Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy · 5 chapters · 6,363 words
First lines
Pinlighting is a hell of a way to earn a living. Underhill was furious as he closed the door behind himself. It didn't make much sense to wear a uniform and look like a soldier if people didn't appreciate what you did.
He sat down in his chair, laid his head back in the headrest and pulled the helmet down over his forehead.
What this Textopian page supports
The Game of Rat and Dragon is listed on Textopian as a novel by Cordwainer Smith, dated 1964 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Cordwainer Smith
- Date: 1964 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, Adventure, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 6,363 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 172 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative explores advanced technology, space travel, and telepathy, which are hallmarks of the science fiction genre.
- Space Opera — The story features epic battles in space, interstellar travel, and a grand scale of conflict between humanity and alien entities.
- Fantasy — The presence of telepathic connections and the anthropomorphization of cats as Partners introduces fantastical elements.
- Adventure — The plot involves high-stakes missions and battles, emphasizing action and exploration.
Tags
Science Fiction · Space Opera · Anthology · Short Story Collection · Utopian · Dystopian · Future History · Interstellar Travel · Alien Invasion · Human Evolution · Artificial Intelligence · Robotics