Chapter 1 of The Crystal Crypt is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Crystal Crypt is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
_Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run. For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship! Attention! You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection. Attention!
Chapter 1 of The Crystal Crypt is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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.
power to direct or determine
From this reading “You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.”
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading “For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!”
a formal or official examination
From this reading “You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.”
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading “You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.”
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading “For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!”
move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading “For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!”
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading “_Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.”
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
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 to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
at or toward the back of something
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
power to direct or determine
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
the outer of two small satellites of Mars
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
a formal or official examination
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
immediately past
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
transport commercially
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind._ "Attention, Inner-Flight ship!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection.
Chapter 1 of The Crystal Crypt by Philip K. Dick holds 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 1 holds 435 sentences of The Crystal Crypt, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Crystal Crypt by Philip K. Dick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 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.
Common questions about reading The Crystal Crypt by Philip K. Dick on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 865 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28698 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #28698, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 72 minutes of reading across 173 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Crystal Crypt section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of The Crystal Crypt 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 Crystal Crypt, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
