The Freelancer by Robert Zacks
"The Freelancer" by Robert Zacks is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The narrative is set in a dystopian future where copyright laws have extended to everyday speech, leading to a society consumed by the enforcement of verbal property rights. The story centers around the struggles of Jeb, a freelance Monitor who makes a living identifying and reporting these violations, often at the expense of genuine human interaction and
connection. The plot follows Jeb as he navigates a day filled with both personal and professional challenges. His strained relationship with his wife, Laurie, looms large as she threatens to have him certified for non-support if he fails to bring home enough credits. As he embarks on his daily rounds, Jeb encounters various citizens, revealing a world marked by desperation and the harsh realities of a system that penalizes common expressions. A turning point occurs when he discovers a significant opportunity tied to political speeches, leading him into a dangerous situation with powerful figures. Ultimately, the story serves as a commentary on individuality and expression in a society constrained by increasingly absurd regulations, leaving readers to ponder the implications of such a reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Zacks, Robert |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Ashman, William |
| Title | The Freelancer |
| Series Title | Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction September 1955 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 75.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 50980 |
| Release Date | Jan 20, 2016 |
| Most Recently Updated | Oct 22, 2024 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 183 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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