Beside Still Waters
The novel follows the adventures of a group of people who are sent to a distant planet to colonize it. The planet is a paradise, with lush vegetation, abundant wildlife, and a seemingly endless supply of resources. But the colonists soon discover that the planet is not as perfect as it seems. They must contend with strange creatures, hostile natives, and a mysterious force that seems to be manipulating their every move. The colonists must find a way to survive and thrive in this strange new world, while also uncovering the secrets of the planet and the force that controls it. Along the way, they must confront their own fears and prejudices, and learn to work together in order to survive. Beside Still Waters is a thrilling and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the themes of exploration, colonization, and the power of the unknown.
By Robert Sheckley · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery · 2 chapters · 1,372 words
First lines
_When people talk about getting away from it all, they are usually thinking about our great open spaces out west. But to science fiction writers, that would be practically in the heart of Times Square.
What this Textopian page supports
Beside Still Waters is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Sheckley, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Sheckley
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 1,372 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 60 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Beside Still Waters by Robert Sheckley
- 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 Beside Still Waters?
- How does this short story by Robert Sheckley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book is written by Robert Sheckley, a renowned science fiction author, and contains elements of science fiction such as time travel and alternate realities.
- Fantasy — The book contains elements of fantasy, such as magical creatures and alternate realities.
- Mystery — The book contains elements of mystery, such as a mysterious stranger and a hidden past.
- Romance — The book contains elements of romance, such as a love story between two characters.
Tags
Conduct of life · Fiction · air · answer · bedtime · charles · crops · earth · fair · floating · friend · girl
Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Beside Still Waters