영어로 읽는 SF고전 _ 에드가 R. 버로스의 효율성 전문가
"효율성 전문가"는 20세기 초에 쓰여진 것으로 추정되는 에드거 라이스 버로우스의 소설입니다. 이야기는 대학 졸업을 앞둔 카리스마 있고 재능 있는 운동선수 지미 토랜스가 학계에서 직업 세계로 전환하는 도전적인 과정을 중심으로 전개됩니다. 실용적인 기술의 부족과 늘어나는 부채에 맞서면서, 독자들은 그의 야망, 자아 발견, 그리고 성인 생활의 고난으로 가득한 여정을 목격하게 됩니다.
책의 시작에서, 우리는 대학 복싱 선수권 대회를 준비하는 지미 토랜스를 만나게 되며, 그의 운동 실력과 인기를 엿볼 수 있습니다. 승리 후, 지미는 졸업을 위협하는 낮은 학업 성적에 대해 대학 총장과 대면하게 됩니다. 이 사건은 지미에게 스포츠를 넘어선 교육의 중요성을 깨닫게 하는 계기가 됩니다.
이야기는 그 후 시카고에서의 졸업 후 고군분투로 이어지며, 취업이 그가 예상했던 것보다 더 어려운 것으로 판명됩니다. 자신감과 성공에 대한 열망에도 불구하고, 그는 수많은 실망을 겪게 되며, 결국 명예롭지 못한 일자리 제안을 받아들일 것인지 아니면 자신의 진실성을 지킬 것인지에 대한 갈림길에 서게 됩니다.
Classics Read in English _ The Efficiency Expert by Edgar Rice Burroughs
"The Efficiency Expert" by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Jimmy Torrance, a charismatic and talented athlete on the verge of graduation from university, who faces the daunting challenge of transitioning from academia to the professional world. As he grapples with his lack of practical skills and mounting debts, readers witness his journey filled with ambition, self-discovery, and the hardships of adult life.
At the start of the book, we are introduced to Jimmy Torrance as he prepares for the boxing championship at his university, showcasing his athletic prowess and popularity. Following his victory, Jimmy is confronted by the university president about his poor academic performance, which threatens his graduation.
This incident catalyzes a realization in Jimmy about the importance of an education beyond sports. The narrative then shifts to his post-graduation struggles in Chicago, where seeking employment proves to be more challenging than he anticipated. Despite his confidence and eagerness to succeed, he faces numerous disappointments, leading him to a crossroads of accepting less-than-honorable job offers or maintaining his integrity.
Among the contents
The gymnasium was packed as Jimmy Torrance stepped into the ring for the final event of the evening that was to decide the boxing championship of the university. Drawing to a close were the nearly four years of his college career?profitable years, Jimmy considered them, and certainly successful up to this point. In the beginning of his senior year he had captained the varsity eleven, and in the coming spring he would again sally forth upon the diamond as the star initial sacker of collegedom.
His football triumphs were in the past, his continued baseball successes a foregone conclusion?if he won to-night his cup of happiness, and an unassailably dominant position among his fellows, would be assured, leaving nothing more, in so far as Jimmy reasoned, to be desired from four years attendance at one of America’s oldest and most famous universities.
