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The Celestial Hammerlock
The Celestial Hammerlock

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Celestial Hammerlock is here in full — 223 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Celestial Hammerlock
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!
To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.
JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.
Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.
Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.
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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.

The Celestial Hammerlock

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Celestial Hammerlock is here in full — 223 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!
Line 2
To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.
Line 3
JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.
Line 4
Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.
/ˈʌndər ˈaʊər emˈplɔɪi ˈpɑːləsi ðɪs ɪz əˈlaʊəbəl ɪˈfektɪv əˈpɑːn kəmˈpliːʃən ʌv jɔːr ˈkɜːrənt əˈsaɪnmənt/
Line 5
Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

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.

allowable adjective US /əˈlaʊəbəl/

deductible according to the tax laws

From this reading “Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.”

Corp noun US /kɔːrp/

a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state

From this reading “To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.”

Horsehead noun US /ˈhɔːrshed/

any of several silvery marine fishes with very flat bodies

From this reading “This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!”

Interplanetary adjective US /ˌɪntərˈplænəteri/

between or among planets

From this reading “To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.”

Michaels noun US /ˈmaɪkəlz/

plural of “michael” — (Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews

From this reading “JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.”

Nebula noun US /ˈnebjələ/

a medicinal liquid preparation intended for use in an atomizer

From this reading “This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!”

promoter noun US /prəˈmoʊtər/

someone who is an active supporter and advocate

From this reading “This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!”

tougher adjective US /ˈtʌfər/

comparative of “tough” — not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading “This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

Second Class noun + noun

not the highest rank in a classification

In this reading “JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

2347

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

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

allowableadjectiveUS /əˈlaʊəbəl/

deductible according to the tax laws

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

AmusementnounUS /əˈmjuːzmənt/

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

assignmentnounUS /əˈsaɪnmənt/

a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces)

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

BALLOONnounUS /bəˈluːn/

large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

bigtime

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

BRAINnounUS /breɪn/

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

ClassnounUS /klæs/

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

completionnounUS /kəmˈpliːʃən/

(American football) a successful forward pass in football

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

CorpnounUS /kɔːrp/

a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

Cosmopolis

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

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

costnounUS /kɑːst/

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

currentnounUS /ˈkɜːrənt/

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

DnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

DearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

EarthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

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

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/

producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

employeenounUS /emˈplɔɪi/

a worker who is hired to perform a job

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/

the state of being employed or having a job

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

Horrocks

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

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

HorseheadnounUS /ˈhɔːrshed/

any of several silvery marine fishes with very flat bodies

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

indicatesverbUS /ˈɪndɪkeɪts/

third-person singular of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

InterplanetaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈplænəteri/

between or among planets

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

JED

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

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

MAILnounUS /meɪl/

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

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

marenounUS /mer/

female equine animal

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

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

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

MichaelsnounUS /ˈmaɪkəlz/

plural of “michael” — (Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

NebulanounUS /ˈnebjələ/

a medicinal liquid preparation intended for use in an atomizer

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

pinningnounUS /ˈpɪnɪŋ/

a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

planetoidnoun

any of numerous small celestial bodies that move around the sun

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/

a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

precedentnounUS /ˈpresɪdənt/

an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

promoternounUS /prəˈmoʊtər/

someone who is an active supporter and advocate

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

QUITverbUS /kwɪt/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/

acceptance of despair

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

ROCKETnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/

any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

SecondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

tougheradjectiveUS /ˈtʌfər/

comparative of “tough” — not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading This bigtime space promoter could get the Horsehead Nebula in a flying mare--but pinning a planetoid is tougher!

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Under our employee policy, this is allowable, effective upon completion of your current assignment.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Under precedent set as long ago as 2347 A. D. the company will even pay the cost of your message of resignation.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

YOUpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To: H. E. Horrocks, Interplanetary Amusement Corp., Cosmopolis, Earth I QUIT, YOU BALLOON BRAIN.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading JED ROCKET MAIL (Second Class) Dear Michaels: Your last message indicates you wish to leave the employment of the Interplanetary Amusement Corp.

Chapter 1 of The Celestial Hammerlock by Donald Colvin holds 223 sentences, grouped into 45 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 The Celestial Hammerlock contain?

Chapter 1 holds 223 sentences of The Celestial Hammerlock, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Celestial Hammerlock by Donald Colvin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 223 sentences, grouped into 45 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 The Celestial Hammerlock?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 The Celestial Hammerlock

Common questions about reading The Celestial Hammerlock by Donald Colvin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Celestial Hammerlock?

Yes. All 223 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51533 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Celestial Hammerlock is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51533, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Celestial Hammerlock take to read?

About 18 minutes of reading across 45 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Celestial Hammerlock section by section

How to work through The Celestial Hammerlock section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Celestial Hammerlock 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 The Celestial Hammerlock

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Celestial Hammerlock, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bigtime
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celestial Hammerlock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Space
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celestial Hammerlock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Promoter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celestial Hammerlock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Horsehead
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Celestial Hammerlock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.