
In a newly unified world where war‑fear has faded and humanity races across the solar system, the age‑old dream of a perfect society seems within reach. John Firth, a charismatic industrialist who has helped shape the planetary confederacy, believes that true progress can only happen when the strong are left to fend for themselves. His outspoken disdain for government hand‑outs and his relentless drive to push the limits of wealth and power set the stage for a clash of ideals.
When a mysterious stranger appears with a tantalizing offer—a hollow, ancient world beyond Pluto that could become Firth’s private utopia—old convictions are put to the test. The deal promises absolute freedom from taxes, politics, and the very people Firth despises, yet it also forces him to confront the cost of creating a world built on his own terms. Listeners are drawn into a tense negotiation that explores ambition, morality, and the allure of a self‑made paradise.
Language
en
Duration
~19 minutes (18K 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
2019-04-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1917–2001
A mid-century science fiction writer, he published sharp, imaginative short stories that appeared in pulp magazines during the 1950s and 1960s. His fiction often paired futuristic ideas with a strong sense of social tension and human conflict.
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