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Hero From Yesterday
Hero From Yesterday

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Hero From Yesterday is here in full — 346 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hero From Yesterday
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.
The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."
"Answer?
To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.
"To Lugert," said Karson.
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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.

Hero From Yesterday

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Hero From Yesterday is here in full — 346 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.
Line 2
The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."
Line 3
"Answer?
/ˈænsər/
Line 4
To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.
Line 5
"To Lugert," said Karson.

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.

citizens noun US /ˈsɪtəzənz/

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading “The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."”

criminal adjective US /ˈkrɪmənəl/

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading “They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.”

criminals noun US /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading “The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."”

executing noun US /ˈeksəkjuːtɪŋ/

putting a condemned person to death

From this reading “They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.”

gunned verb US /ɡʌnd/

inflected form of “gun” — shoot with a gun

From this reading “The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."”

peaceful adjective US /ˈpiːsfəl/

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading “They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.”

robbery noun US /ˈrɑːbəri/

larceny by threat of violence

From this reading “The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."”

Speaker noun US /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading “The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."”

All words in this reading · 47

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.

boldadjectiveUS /boʊld/

fearless and daring

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

broad-daylight

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

couldn't

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

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

CouncilnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəl/

a body serving in an administrative capacity

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

criminalsnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

Darell

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

From this reading To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

Domnas

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

executingnounUS /ˈeksəkjuːtɪŋ/

putting a condemned person to death

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

FourthnounUS /fɔːrθ/

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

gunnedverbUS /ɡʌnd/

inflected form of “gun” — shoot with a gun

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

I've

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

Karson

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

Lugert

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

From this reading "To Lugert," said Karson.

Lugert's

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

Murgon

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

From this reading To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/

larceny by threat of violence

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

SpeakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

ThirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The answer was to discover a-- The day Lugert's criminals gunned down three citizens in a bold broad-daylight robbery, Domnas Karson, Third Speaker of the Council, said, "I think I've got the answer."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were a peaceful people and somehow couldn't stand the thought of executing their only criminal.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading To what?" asked Murgon Darell Fourth Speaker.

Chapter 1 of Hero From Yesterday by Randall Garrett holds 346 sentences, grouped into 70 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 Hero From Yesterday contain?

Chapter 1 holds 346 sentences of Hero From Yesterday, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Hero From Yesterday by Randall Garrett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 346 sentences, grouped into 70 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 Hero From Yesterday?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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 Hero From Yesterday

Common questions about reading Hero From Yesterday by Randall Garrett on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hero From Yesterday?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hero From Yesterday is used?

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

How long does Hero From Yesterday take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hero From Yesterday section by section

How to work through Hero From Yesterday section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Hero From Yesterday

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hero From Yesterday, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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