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- Herausgeber: Alien Ebooks
- Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
- Sprache: Englisch
On the mysterious world of Hume, ethnologist Cliff Rowley senses something is amiss. The natives' idyllic life seems staged, as if to deceive him and his fellow researchers. Strange events, like a woman's death and miraculous return, only deepen the puzzle. As Rowley digs for the truth behind the illusion, a shocking revelation awaits. To uncover Hume's secrets, he must challenge everything he believes about the nature of the planet and its inhabitants. But will his discoveries come too late, before the expedition departs forever?
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Seitenzahl: 27
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION, by Karl Wurf
THE GREAT ILLUSION, by Manly Bannister
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Originally published in Super-Science Fiction, February 1957.
Published by Wildside Press.
wildsidepress.com
INTRODUCTION,by Karl Wurf
Manly Banister (1914-1986) was an American author, editor, and artist in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He contributed to the field primarily in 1940s and 1950s. Banister was not only a writer but also an active participant in the science fiction fan community.
In addition to short stories, he published one novel, an exciting future war story called Conquest of Earth. For many years, the 1964 paperback was very common on the used book scene.
Aside from his writing, Banister was also known for his skills in bookbinding and printing. He ran a small publishing company called Nepenthe Press and published limited edition books, including some of his own works and those of other authors in the genre. Nepenthe Press was known for its high-quality, hand-crafted books, which reflected Banister’s skills and passion for bookbinding and printing. This endeavor allowed him to express his creativity and support the science fiction community by bringing works into permanent form for readers, much like Arkham House, Fantasy Press, and others specialty science fiction and fantasy presses were doing at the time. His contributions to the do-it-yourself aspect of publishing and his involvement in the fan community are well-remembered parts of his legacy in the science fiction scene.
THE GREAT ILLUSION,by Manly Bannister
Cliff Rowley’s lean jowls beaded with sweat in the stagnant warmth of the tent. He tapped a bony finger on the camp table and glared at the communicator.
“Clear out in a week! Why?”
Commander Waldo Spliid’s tired voice trickled from the communicator grid. Rowley would have appreciated video hook-up now. He wondered how Spliid’s features portrayed his thoughts.
“Here’s final classification on Hume, Cliff. Category two X sub one.”
“Closed world!” Rowley groaned. “We’ve only been here three months!”
“Eleven men in the field, Cliff. You’re the odd ball. Everybody else is satisfied. Hume is only a step above savagery in culture. Top rating is satisfied. I don’t like the conflicting picture of it, myself, but…”
“Nor I,” Rowley stabbed. The look in his hazel eyes hardened.
“You wouldn’t,” Spliid said calmly, “even without seeing the reports. You’re a percie, Cliff—our only psi-sensitive on Hume. But you’ve got to do a lot more than you’ve done yet to impress top rating. They’re keener on the things you can’t do than the things you can.”
“A few more months, Commander….”
“A week, Cliff. Seven days. Get in and dig for all you’re worth.”
“Me and my little psychic shovel,” Rowley commented bitterly.
A hum came out of the comm. Somewhere, far above the atmosphere of Hume, the Survey ship, with Spliid on board, cruised among the stars.
“Clean up any questions you can,” Spliid went on. “Bring your notes up to date. The pilot boat will pick you up…let’s see…this is Wednesday…Wednesday for us, anyway. Next Wednesday, then. Have everything ready to load. And keep on reporting.”
Rowley started to retort, thought better of it. He switched off the comm.
Well, that did it. They’d had it, as far as Hume was concerned. And the puzzle still stared him in the face—him
