They Also Serve
The novel follows the story of two men, Jack and Joe, who are hired by a mysterious figure to steal a valuable painting from a museum. The painting is said to be worth millions of dollars, and the two men are promised a hefty sum for their efforts. However, the heist quickly goes wrong when the painting is stolen by a third party, and Jack and Joe are left with nothing. Desperate for money, the two men decide to take matters into their own hands and embark on a mission to get the painting back. The novel follows Jack and Joe as they travel across the country, trying to track down the painting and the mysterious figure who hired them. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters, from criminals to law enforcement, and must use their wits and skills to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. Ultimately, Jack and Joe must decide if they are willing to risk their lives to get the painting back, or if they should just accept their losses and move on.
By Donald E. Westlake · First published 1961 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction · 2,805 words
First lines
The launch carrying the mail, supplies and replacements eased slowly in toward the base, keeping the bulk of the Moon between itself and Earth. Captain Ebor, seated at the controls, guided the ship to the rocky uneven ground with the easy carelessness of long practice, then cut the drive, got to his walking tentacles, and stretched. Donning his spacesuit, he left the ship to go over to the dome and meet Darquelnoy, the base commander.
An open ground-car was waiting for him beside the ship. The driver, encased in his spacesuit, crossed tentacles in a sloppy salute, and Ebor returned the gesture quite as sloppily. Here on the periphery, cast formalities were all but dispensed with.
What this Textopian page supports
They Also Serve is listed on Textopian as a short story by Donald E. Westlake, dated 1961 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Donald E. Westlake
- Date: 1961 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction
- Length: 2,805 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for They Also Serve by Donald E. Westlake
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering They Also Serve?
- How does this short story by Donald E. Westlake fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Spy In The Elevator by Donald E. Westlake
- Jaywalker by Ross Rocklynne
- First Man by Clyde Brown
- Measure For A Loner by Jim Harmon
- The Skull by Philip K. Dick
- Laboratory by Jerome Bixby
Genres
- Mystery — The book follows a detective as he investigates a murder and unravels a complex mystery.
- Thriller — The book contains suspenseful moments as the detective races against time to solve the case.
- Crime Fiction — The book follows a detective as he investigates a crime and attempts to bring the perpetrator to justice.
- Noir Fiction — The book contains dark and gritty elements, such as a corrupt police force and a morally ambiguous protagonist.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · around · asked · back · base · car · come · could · course · darquelnoy · dome