Not This August (Christmas Eve) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Sci-Fi Holiday TaleBy Cyril M. Kornbluth
Length7h 5m
About this audiobook
Cyril M. Kornbluth's Not This August, also published as Christmas Eve, is a grim Cold War political thriller that imagines an America defeated and occupied after a Soviet-Chinese victory. Rather than treating apocalypse as spectacle, Kornbluth narrows the drama to compromised citizens, resistance networks, propaganda, and moral exhaustion. His prose is hard, economical, and sardonic, closer to wartime reportage and noir than to space-age wonder, placing the novel among the darker mid-century works that used science fiction to test liberal democracy under catastrophic pressure. Kornbluth, a central figure in American science fiction's Golden Age, was known for his sharp social intelligence and impatience with comforting myths. A former soldier and a writer shaped by Depression-era politics, World War II, and the nuclear anxieties of the 1950s, he brought to this novel a skeptical understanding of institutions, ideology, and human weakness. His collaborations with Frederik Pohl had already demonstrated his gift for political satire; here that gift becomes more severe and tragic. This book is recommended for readers interested in alternate history, Cold War literature, and science fiction that confronts power without escapism. It remains compelling because its central question is not merely whether a nation can survive defeat, but whether moral courage can survive fear, convenience, and collaboration.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★ 3.5 (207)
Includes Goodreads
GenreScience Fiction, Dystopia
Length7 hrs 5 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 27, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
17Chapter Eleven
2Introduction
18Chapter Twelve
3Synopsis
19Chapter Thirteen
4Historical Context
20Book 3
5Not This August (Christmas Eve)
21Chapter Fourteen
Show all chaptersShow less
6Book 1
22Chapter Fifteen
7Chapter One
23Chapter Sixteen
8Chapter Two
24Chapter Seventeen
9Chapter Three
25Chapter Eighteen
10Chapter Four
26Book 4
11Chapter Five
27Chapter Nineteen
12Chapter Six
28Chapter Twenty
13Chapter Seven
29Analysis
14Chapter Nine
30Reflection
15Chapter Ten
31Memorable Quotes
16Book 2
Takeoff (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth7h 13m$2 · $0.00
Two Dooms: Two Dystopian Novels (Illustrated) (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl10h 37m$2 · $0.00
Search the Sky (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl7h 6m3.4 (527)$2 · $0.00
Rocket Launch (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth7h 48m$2 · $0.00
The Naked StormCyril M. Kornbluth7h 2m$2 · $0.00
Wolfbane (Illustrated) (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl5h 1m3.8 (741)$2 · $0.00
The Best Short Stories by Cyril M. Kornbluth (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth12h 10m$2 · $0.00
TakeoffCyril M. Kornbluth6h 19m2.9 (30)$2 · $0.00
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