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Invaders from the Infinite
Invaders from the Infinite

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Invaders from the Infinite is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Invaders from the Infinite
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.
He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.
"Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.
"Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.
"See anything?"
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Invaders from the Infinite

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Invaders from the Infinite is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.
Line 2
He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.
/hiː stretʃt hɪmˈself ənd jɔːnd ˈbrɔːdli/
Line 3
"Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.
Line 4
"Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.
Line 5
"See anything?"
/siː ˈeniθɪŋ/

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.

broadly adverb US /ˈbrɔːdli/

without regard to specific details or exceptions

From this reading “He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.”

Evans noun US /ˈevənz/

United States anatomist who identified four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1882-1971)

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

patrol noun US /pəˈtroʊl/

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

Rocket noun US /ˈrɑːkət/

any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

Russ noun US /rʌs/

plural of “rus” — the medieval Russian state established by Scandinavian traders in the 9th century; the capital was first in Novgorod and then in Kiev

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

Squad noun US /skwɑːd/

a smallest army unit

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

weightless adjective US /ˈweɪtləs/

having little or no weight or apparent gravitational pull; light

From this reading “Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.”

yawned verb US /jɔːnd/

past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired

From this reading “He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

34

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

3497

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading "See anything?"

beltnounUS /belt/

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

broadlyadverbUS /ˈbrɔːdli/

without regard to specific details or exceptions

From this reading He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

EvansnounUS /ˈevənz/

United States anatomist who identified four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1882-1971)

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

how

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

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

others

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

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

PatrolnounUS /pəˈtroʊl/

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

PilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/

operate an airplane

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

pushverbUS /pʊʃ/

move with force

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

RednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

RocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/

any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

RussnounUS /rʌs/

plural of “rus” — the medieval Russian state established by Scandinavian traders in the 9th century; the capital was first in Novgorod and then in Kiev

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "See anything?"

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

ShutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

slightnounUS /slaɪt/

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

SquadnounUS /skwɑːd/

a smallest army unit

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.

swiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

unsnapped

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

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

wakeverbUS /weɪk/

be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Red, how soon do we eat?" he called.

weightlessadjectiveUS /ˈweɪtləs/

having little or no weight or apparent gravitational pull; light

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Russ Evans, Pilot 3497, Rocket Squad Patrol 34, unsnapped his seat belt, and with a slight push floated "up" into the air inside the weightless ship.

yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/

past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired

From this reading He stretched himself, and yawned broadly.

you'll

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

From this reading "Shut up, you'll wake the others," replied a low voice from the rear of the swift little patrol ship.

Chapter 1 of Invaders from the Infinite by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell holds 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 Invaders from the Infinite contain?

Chapter 1 holds 107 sentences of Invaders from the Infinite, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Invaders from the Infinite by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 Invaders from the Infinite?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 Invaders from the Infinite

Common questions about reading Invaders from the Infinite by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Invaders from the Infinite?

Yes. All 4051 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20154 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Invaders from the Infinite is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #20154, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Invaders from the Infinite take to read?

About 337 minutes of reading across 811 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Invaders from the Infinite section by section

How to work through Invaders from the Infinite section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Invaders from the Infinite 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 Invaders from the Infinite

Words and structures a reader meets early in Invaders from the Infinite, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Evans
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Invaders from the Infinite; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pilot
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Invaders from the Infinite; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rocket
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Invaders from the Infinite; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Squad
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Invaders from the Infinite; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.