000			02787cam a22003973u 4500
001			69009
003			UtSlPG
005			20260610134609.0
006			m
007			cr n
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040			_aUtSlPG
041		7	_aen _2iso639-1
050		4	_aPS
100	1		_aKnight, Damon, _d1922-2002
245	1	0	_aDefinition
264		1	_aSalt Lake City, UT : _bProject Gutenberg, _c2022
300			_a1 online resource : _bmultiple file formats
336			_atext _btxt _2rdacontent
337			_acomputer _bc _2rdamedia
338			_aonline resource _bcr _2rdacarrier
490	1		_aProduced from Startling Stories, February 1953
500			_aRelease date is 2022-09-18
508			_aGreg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
520			_a"Definition" by Damon Knight is a science fiction short story penned in the early 1950s. The narrative unfolds in a distant future where humankind navigates the vastness of space, grappling with encounters that challenge their understanding of identity and consciousness. At its core, the story delves into the complexities of human nature, particularly when faced with an enigmatic group known as the Kassids, who embody a philosophical concept that could dramatically alter human existence. The plot follows Charles and Midge Samson, a couple stationed in a segment of space known as Slice 103. When they receive a troubling report about a fellow traveler, Jackson, who has seemingly abandoned his post after a charismatic encounter with the Kassids, the Samsons are tasked with investigating this phenomenon. As they delve deeper, they discover that the Kassids are not a traditional race or empire but rather an idea that challenges the very foundation of what it means to be human. Through their exploration, they confront profound questions about love, peace, and the potential existential threat posed by a powerful, unifying belief system, ultimately leading to a painful realization about the nature of humanity and its place in the universe. The story culminates in a moral quandary about the essence of progress and the implications of change, leaving readers to ponder the weight of the philosophical revelations presented. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534			_pOriginally published: _cUnited States: Better Publications, Inc., 1952
653			_aScience fiction
653			_aShort stories
653			_aHuman-alien encounters -- Fiction
653			_aSpace travelers -- Fiction
653			_aSpouses -- Fiction
653			_aProselytizing -- Fiction
700	1		_aDreany, E. Joseph, _d1908-1961
830		0	_aProduced from Startling Stories, February 1953
856	4	0	_uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69009
999			_c109808 _d109808