
In a far‑future galaxy, the war between Earth and its sister world, Venus, has finally drawn to a close. A Venusian admiral’s official communique welcomes humanity to a new era of coexistence, announcing the exile of the last Earth commander and the confinement of the war’s leaders on distant space islands. The narrative unfolds through bureaucratic reports that blend stark military facts with a surprisingly courteous invitation to share a peaceful existence.
Through a series of government briefs, listeners learn why Venus long observed Earth’s relentless militarism, how its own magnetico‑gravitational drives rendered atomic weapons obsolete, and why the planet stockpiled formidable defenses despite a deep aversion to conflict. The story examines the uneasy balance between security and morality, and the cultural shock that follows when two very different societies must learn to trust one another after years of suspicion. As the first act unfolds, the fragile truce hangs on diplomatic skill, scientific curiosity, and the lingering fear that old hostilities could flare again.
Language
en
Duration
~22 minutes (21K 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
2019-01-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1927–2004
A mid-century science fiction writer with a sharp eye for gadgetry, social pressure, and the strange side effects of new technology. His stories often turn familiar futures into sly, unsettling thought experiments.
View all booksA British political scholar and former Labour MP, he wrote clearly about Europe, constitutional change, and the machinery of government. His work brings together firsthand political experience and a lifelong academic interest in how power is organized and used.
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