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Brigands of the Moon
Brigands of the Moon

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Brigands of the Moon
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ACE BOOKS, INC.
23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.
Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.
Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.
The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Brigands of the Moon

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ACE BOOKS, INC.
/eɪs bʊks ɪŋk/
Line 2
23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.
Line 3
Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.
Line 4
Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.
/ʌv ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl nəˈsesəti ˈaʊər flaɪts wɜːr ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
Line 5
The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

Learner Dictionary

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.

ace noun US /eɪs/

the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “ACE BOOKS, INC.”

astronomical adjective US /ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl/

relating or belonging to the science of astronomy

From this reading “Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.”

flights noun US /flaɪts/

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading “Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.”

inc noun US /ɪŋk/

a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government

From this reading “ACE BOOKS, INC.”

Mars noun US /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading “Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.”

planets noun US /ˈplænəts/

plural of “planet” — (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading “The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.”

traffic noun US /ˈtræfɪk/

the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time

From this reading “Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.”

trips noun US /trɪps/

plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading “The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.”

All words in this reading · 50

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.

2070

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

23

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

36

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

47th

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

ACEnounUS /eɪs/

the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading ACE BOOKS, INC.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

astronomicaladjectiveUS /ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl/

relating or belonging to the science of astronomy

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

BOOKSnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading ACE BOOKS, INC.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

EarthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

flightsnounUS /flaɪts/

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

GreateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

INCnounUS /ɪŋk/

a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government

From this reading ACE BOOKS, INC.

irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/

contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

mailnounUS /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

NnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

necessitynounUS /nəˈsesəti/

the condition of being essential or indispensable

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

passengernounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/

a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

Planetara

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

planetsnounUS /ˈplænəts/

plural of “planet” — (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

portnounUS /pɔːrt/

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

space-flyer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/

the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

tripsnounUS /trɪps/

plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

VenusnounUS /ˈviːnəs/

the second nearest planet to the sun

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Of astronomical necessity, our flights were irregular.

WestnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Our ship, the space-flyer, _Planetara_, whose home port was Greater New York, carried mail and passenger traffic to and from both Venus and Mars.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The spring of 2070, with both planets close to the Earth, we were making two complete round trips.

YnounUS /waɪ/

a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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.

What does chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon contain?

Chapter 1 holds 415 sentences of Brigands of the Moon, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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.

How do I study chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Brigands of the Moon

Common questions about reading Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Brigands of the Moon?

Yes. All 7750 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19066 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Brigands of the Moon is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #19066, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Brigands of the Moon take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1550 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Brigands of the Moon section by section

How to work through Brigands of the Moon section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of Brigands of the Moon to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Brigands of the Moon

Words and structures a reader meets early in Brigands of the Moon, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brigands of the Moon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Street
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brigands of the Moon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Space-flyer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brigands of the Moon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Planetara
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brigands of the Moon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.