Chapter 12 of The Cosmic Computer is here in full — 376 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
Chapter 12 of The Cosmic Computer is here in full — 376 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?" Ledue asked incredulously. "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?" "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts. Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
Chapter 12 of The Cosmic Computer is here in full — 376 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading “"Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.”
plural of “computer” — a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading “"Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.”
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading “"You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"”
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading “"Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"”
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading “Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.”
(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor
From this reading “"You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"”
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading “"Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"”
the act of testing something
From this reading “"Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Ledue asked incredulously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
plural of “computer” — a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
in an incredulous manner
From this reading Ledue asked incredulously.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ledue asked incredulously.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
not any; not one
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
and nothing more
From this reading "Merlin is a computer; computers deal only in facts.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
express in words
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Computers are machines; they have no sense of self-preservation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
the act of testing something
From this reading "Let Merlin put itself on trial, and sentence itself to destruction?"
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You mean, ask Merlin to tell us whether it ought to be destroyed or not?"
Chapter 12 of The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper holds 376 sentences, grouped into 76 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.
Chapter 12 holds 376 sentences of The Cosmic Computer, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 12 of The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 376 sentences, grouped into 76 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.
Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 76 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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.
Common questions about reading The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20727 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #20727, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 400 minutes of reading across 963 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Cosmic Computer section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of The Cosmic Computer to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Cosmic Computer, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
