
A colossal generation vessel drifts through a dying star system, its endless corridors and humming generators the only home for the last remnants of a once‑thriving race. N’Zik, a weary technician, and Shi‑Zik, his hopeful companion, are the final two alive after countless generations fell victim to unseen cosmic rays. Together they pilot the ship toward the inner worlds, hoping the faint warmth of nearer orbits might still sustain life.
As the ship sweeps past icy, lifeless planets, the pair use an etheroscope to peer closer, discovering crumbling cities and strange markings on barren surfaces. Each dead world hints at a civilization that vanished long ago, raising both dread and curiosity. Their journey becomes a fragile balance of survival and the lingering question of whether any sanctuary remains within the collapsing system.
Language
en
Duration
~12 minutes (11K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2020-12-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1913–1977
A lively figure from the early science fiction scene, this writer is best remembered for collaborating with Ray Bradbury on Bradbury’s first professionally published story. His own work ranged from pulp-era adventures to later novels, with a knack for big ideas and classic magazine-style imagination.
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