Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
William Gibson Interviewed
William Gibson Interviewed

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of William Gibson Interviewed is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Giuseppe Salza • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for William Gibson Interviewed
Context Illustration Reading 9/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?
My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.
Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.
It would have been fun if he stayed on.
(ED.he eventually quit.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

William Gibson Interviewed

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of William Gibson Interviewed is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 9/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 41–45

Line 1
What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?
/wʌt duː juː θɪŋk ɪn ˈretrəspekt ʌv ðɪs mɪsədˈventʃər/
Line 2
My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.
Line 3
Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.
Line 4
It would have been fun if he stayed on.
/ɪt wʊd hæv bɪn fʌn ɪf hiː steɪd ɑːn/
Line 5
(ED.he eventually quit.

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.

Alien adjective US /ˈeɪliən/

not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
director noun US /dərˈektər/

someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading “Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
directors noun US /dərˈektərz/

plural of “director” — someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading “Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
misadventure noun US /mɪsədˈventʃər/

an instance of misfortune

From this reading “What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Navigator noun US /ˈnævəɡeɪtər/

the ship's officer in charge of navigation

From this reading “Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retrospect noun US /ˈretrəspekt/

contemplation of things past

From this reading “What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
script noun US /skrɪpt/

a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance

From this reading “My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unsuccessfully adverb US /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəli/

without success

From this reading “Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 52

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.

3

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

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AlienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/

not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
directornounUS /dərˈektər/

someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
directorsnounUS /dərˈektərz/

plural of “director” — someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
EDnounUS /ed/

impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading (ED.he eventually quit.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
funnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meaningnounUS /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
misadventurenounUS /mɪsədˈventʃər/

an instance of misfortune

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NavigatornounUS /ˈnævəɡeɪtər/

the ship's officer in charge of navigation

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
projectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/

communicate vividly

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quitverbUS /kwɪt/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading (ED.he eventually quit.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retrospectnounUS /ˈretrəspekt/

contemplation of things past

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scriptnounUS /skrɪpt/

a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stayedverbUS /steɪd/

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Tarkovskian

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

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unsuccessfullyadverbUS /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəli/

without success

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Vincent

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

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

Pending verification
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading Vincent Ward (ED.the director of "The Navigator") came late to the project (ED.after a number of other directors had been unsuccessfully approached), but I think he got the true meaning of my story.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading My script for "Alien3" was kind of Tarkovskian.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It would have been fun if he stayed on.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading What do you think in retrospect of this misadventure ?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of William Gibson Interviewed by Giuseppe Salza holds 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 William Gibson Interviewed contain?

Chapter 1 holds 187 sentences of William Gibson Interviewed, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of William Gibson Interviewed by Giuseppe Salza exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 William Gibson Interviewed?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 William Gibson Interviewed

Common questions about reading William Gibson Interviewed by Giuseppe Salza on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of William Gibson Interviewed?

Yes. All 187 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #235 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of William Gibson Interviewed is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #235, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does William Gibson Interviewed take to read?

About 15 minutes of reading across 38 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read William Gibson Interviewed section by section

How to work through William Gibson Interviewed section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of William Gibson Interviewed 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 William Gibson Interviewed

Words and structures a reader meets early in William Gibson Interviewed, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Standard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of William Gibson Interviewed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Disclaimer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of William Gibson Interviewed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Document
A word that appears in the opening chapter of William Gibson Interviewed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Freely
A word that appears in the opening chapter of William Gibson Interviewed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.