Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Invaders from the Infinite
Invaders from the Infinite

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Invaders from the Infinite is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Invaders from the Infinite
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.
"I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.
Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."
Zezdon Fentes' message was brief.
He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.
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 XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Invaders from the Infinite is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.
Line 2
"I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.
Line 3
Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."
Line 4
Zezdon Fentes' message was brief.
Line 5
He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

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.

base noun US /beɪs/

installation from which a military force initiates operations

From this reading “He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.”

Chicago noun US /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading “"I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.”

communication noun US /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading “"I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.”

destroyed adjective US /dɪˈstrɔɪd/

spoiled or ruined or demolished

From this reading “He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.”

destruction noun US /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/

the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists

From this reading “DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.”

magnetic adjective US /mæɡˈnetɪk/

of or relating to or caused by magnetism

From this reading “He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.”

minds noun US /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading “He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.”

universe noun US /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

Arcot

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

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

basenounUS /beɪs/

installation from which a military force initiates operations

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

briefadjectiveUS /briːf/

of short duration or distance

From this reading Zezdon Fentes' message was brief.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

destroyedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔɪd/

spoiled or ruined or demolished

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

DESTRUCTIONnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/

the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

Fentes

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

fieldnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

gentlemennounUS /ˈdʒentəlmɪn/

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/

of great significance or value

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

killedverbUS /kɪld/

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

magneticadjectiveUS /mæɡˈnetɪk/

of or relating to or caused by magnetism

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

mindsnounUS /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

Morey

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

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Morey will take you to Chicago in the tender, and I can find Zezdon Fentes."

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading DESTRUCTION Some time later, Arcot spoke.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Zezdon Fentes' message was brief.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He had discovered from the minds of several who had been killed by the magnetic field Arcot had used, and not destroyed, that they had a base in this universe.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

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 "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

Zezdon

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

From this reading "I have just received a message from Zezdon Fentes that he has an important communication to make, so I will go down to New York instead of to Chicago, if you gentlemen do not mind.

Chapter 20 of Invaders from the Infinite by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 20 of Invaders from the Infinite contain?

Chapter 20 holds 141 sentences of Invaders from the Infinite, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 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 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 20 of Invaders from the Infinite?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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.