Chapter 1 of The Ego Machine is here in full — 434 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 Ego Machine is here in full — 434 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
[Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it! After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?] Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk. "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice. "I already know.
Chapter 1 of The Ego Machine is here in full — 434 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/86 · 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.
present reasons and arguments
From this reading “After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]”
British statesman who as Prime Minister bought controlling interest in the Suez Canal and made Queen Victoria the empress of India (1804-1881)
From this reading “After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]”
the environment as it relates to living organisms
From this reading “[Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!”
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading “[Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!”
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading “Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.”
most favorable conditions or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances
From this reading “[Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!”
cool and formal in manner
From this reading “"I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.”
a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading “[Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!”
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.
In this reading “Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.”
seek information from
In this reading “Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.”
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 [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
a radioactive element of the actinide series; found in uranium ores
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
later than; following
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "I already know.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
present reasons and arguments
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
British statesman who as Prime Minister bought controlling interest in the Suez Canal and made Queen Victoria the empress of India (1804-1881)
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
the environment as it relates to living organisms
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
the act of departing
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I already know.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I already know.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
roused to anger
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
most favorable conditions or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
cool and formal in manner
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
to a small degree or extent
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nicholas Martin looked up at the robot across the desk.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I'm not going to ask what you want," he said, in a low, restrained voice.
at the time that
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
which person or people
From this reading After all, who wants to argue like Disraeli or live like Ivan the Terrible?]
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading [Sidenote: When a slightly mad robot drunk on AC, wants you to join an experiment in optimum ecology--don't do it!
Chapter 1 of The Ego Machine by Henry Kuttner holds 434 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 434 sentences of The Ego Machine, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Ego Machine by Henry Kuttner exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 434 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 Ego Machine by Henry Kuttner on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1724 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32108 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #32108, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 143 minutes of reading across 345 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Ego Machine section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Ego Machine 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 Ego Machine, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
