
Part 1
A modest scholar from the cramped alleys of his hometown, Professor Aloys Foulcault‑Oeg has spent a lifetime turning scraps of cloth and butcher‑paper into a dazzling, nineteen‑equation theory that promises to reshape the very foundations of science. Though his work draws the quiet admiration of a handful of elite thinkers, Aloys remains unknown to the world that walks its polished streets, his only riches the threadbare coat passed down through generations.
When a mysterious award and invitation arrive, Aloys is thrust onto a rapid, bewildering journey across rivers and seas, clutching the prized check—unreadable to him—in the pocket of his beloved coat. As he reaches the glittering city where the ceremony will unfold, his humble self confronts a society of polished strangers, and the line between brilliance and obscurity begins to blur in ways he never imagined.
Language
en
Duration
~15 minutes (15K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2016-03-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1914–2002
A late-blooming original, this Oklahoma writer brought tall-tale energy, Catholic imagination, and a wonderfully offbeat voice to science fiction and fantasy. His stories can feel funny, mythic, and startling all at once.
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