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The Queen of Space
The Queen of Space

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Queen of Space is here in full — 571 sentences across 115 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Queen of Space
Context Illustration Reading 1/114 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.
In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...
I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.
Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.
He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.
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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 Queen of Space

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Queen of Space is here in full — 571 sentences across 115 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/114 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.
Line 2
In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...
Line 3
I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.
Line 4
Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.
Line 5
He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

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.

cleaner noun US /ˈkliːnər/

a preparation used in cleaning something

From this reading “He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.”

dimension noun US /dɪˈmenʃən/

the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)

From this reading “In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...”

galactic adjective US /ɡəˈlæktɪk/

of or relating to a galaxy (especially our galaxy the Milky Way)

From this reading “Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.”

jets noun US /dʒets/

plural of “jet” — an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading “I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.”

Plutonian adjective US /pluːˈtoʊniən/

of or relating to or characteristic of Hades or Tartarus

From this reading “I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.”

Stinger noun US /ˈstɪŋər/

a cocktail made of made of creme de menthe and brandy

From this reading “I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.”

tablecloths noun US /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθs/

plural of “tablecloth” — a covering spread over a dining table

From this reading “He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.”

wriggle verb US /ˈrɪɡəl/

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading “Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.”

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.

strange noise adjective + noun

In this reading “I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.”

like a flock verb + article + noun counted as “like … flock”

In this reading “I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.”

In fact preposition + noun

in reality or actuality

In this reading “In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...”

through the door preposition + article + noun counted as “through … door”

In this reading “Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

atmospherenounUS /ˈætməsfɪr/

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

Burleyque

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

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

bustin

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

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

Charley's

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

cleanernounUS /ˈkliːnər/

a preparation used in cleaning something

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/

having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

dimensionnounUS /dɪˈmenʃən/

the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

divenounUS /daɪv/

a cheap disreputable nightclub or dance hall

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

flocknounUS /flɑːk/

a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

foreheadnounUS /ˈfɔːrhed/

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

galacticadjectiveUS /ɡəˈlæktɪk/

of or relating to a galaxy (especially our galaxy the Milky Way)

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

handkerchiefnounUS /ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/

a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

HelennounUS /ˈhelən/

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

hipnounUS /hɪp/

either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

hippedadjective

having hips; or having hips as specified (usually in combination)

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

hittin

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

jetsnounUS /dʒets/

plural of “jet” — an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

LaTour

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

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

PlutonianadjectiveUS /pluːˈtoʊniən/

of or relating to or characteristic of Hades or Tartarus

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

relaxinnoun

hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during the last days of pregnancy; relaxes the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for labor

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

RetreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

RightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

scared-like

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

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

smackverbUS /smæk/

deliver a hard blow to

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

StingernounUS /ˈstɪŋər/

a cocktail made of made of creme de menthe and brandy

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

tableclothsnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθs/

plural of “tablecloth” — a covering spread over a dining table

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Right after a character comes bustin' through the door.

Venusian

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

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In fact, it was so good she hipped herself smack into another dimension!...

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

wipin

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

From this reading He looks behind him, scared-like, wipin' his forehead with a handkerchief as big as one of Charley's tablecloths, only cleaner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I was relaxin' with my second Plutonian Stinger in the dignified atmosphere of Charley's Venusian Retreat when there was this strange noise outside the dive, like a flock of hot jets hittin' the atmosphere.

wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading Helen LaTour had the best hip wriggle in galactic Burleyque.

Chapter 1 of The Queen of Space by Joseph Slotkin holds 571 sentences, grouped into 115 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 Queen of Space contain?

Chapter 1 holds 571 sentences of The Queen of Space, unabridged, divided into 115 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Queen of Space by Joseph Slotkin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 571 sentences, grouped into 115 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 Queen of Space?

Work through the 115 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 115 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 Queen of Space

Common questions about reading The Queen of Space by Joseph Slotkin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Queen of Space?

Yes. All 571 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66395 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Queen of Space is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66395, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Queen of Space take to read?

About 47 minutes of reading across 115 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Queen of Space section by section

How to work through The Queen of Space section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Queen of Space 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 Queen of Space

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Queen of Space, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Helen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Queen of Space; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Latour
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Queen of Space; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wriggle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Queen of Space; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Galactic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Queen of Space; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.