Chapter 1 of Alcatraz of the Starways is here in full — 461 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Alcatraz of the Starways is here in full — 461 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Venus was a world enslaved. And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe. "Purple!" Mark Denning almost sobbed. "A purple Josmian!"
Chapter 1 of Alcatraz of the Starways is here in full — 461 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
-ing form of “avenge” — take revenge for a perceived wrong
From this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
past form of “enslave” — make a slave of; bring into servitude
From this reading “Venus was a world enslaved.”
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
From this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
From this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading “Mark Denning almost sobbed.”
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
the second nearest planet to the sun
From this reading “Venus was a world enslaved.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Venus was a world enslaved.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mark Denning almost sobbed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
-ing form of “avenge” — take revenge for a perceived wrong
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark Denning almost sobbed.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
past form of “enslave” — make a slave of; bring into servitude
From this reading Venus was a world enslaved.
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A purple Josmian!"
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Mark Denning almost sobbed.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
on one occasion
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading "Purple!"
characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading Mark Denning almost sobbed.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
the second nearest planet to the sun
From this reading Venus was a world enslaved.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Venus was a world enslaved.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
belonging to which person
From this reading And then, like an avenging angel, fanning the flames of raging revolt, came a warrior-princess in whose mind lay dread knowledge--the knowledge of a weapon so terrible it had been used but once in the history of the universe.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Venus was a world enslaved.
Chapter 1 of Alcatraz of the Starways by Albert, -1957 dePina holds 461 sentences, grouped into 93 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 461 sentences of Alcatraz of the Starways, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Alcatraz of the Starways by Albert, -1957 dePina exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 461 sentences, grouped into 93 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 93 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Alcatraz of the Starways by Albert, -1957 dePina on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1821 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62377 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #62377, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 151 minutes of reading across 365 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Alcatraz of the Starways section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 4 chapters of Alcatraz of the Starways to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Alcatraz of the Starways, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
