
Part 1
Part 2
A scholarly investigation opens the story, as a determined professor reaches out to a retired general for any recollection of a baffling ruler who rose from obscurity to dominate a great nation. Through a series of letters, the narrative explores the paradox of a man who, despite being uneducated and superstitious, commanded unwavering loyalty and imposed a brutal, sultan‑like regime on a modern, technologically advanced society.
The book follows the professor’s frustrating quest for answers, confronting silent witnesses, evasive officials, and even a janitor who claims to have seen the leader’s “holy” aura. As he pieces together fragmented testimonies, the reader is drawn into a tense study of how charisma, fear, and irrational belief can fuse to create a terrifying political phenomenon—raising more questions than answers about the nature of power itself.
Language
en
Duration
~45 minutes (43K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Nov 24, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1896–1975
A pioneering voice of early science fiction, Murray Leinster imagined parallel worlds, alien encounters, and networked computers long before they became familiar ideas. His inventive stories combined bold concepts with the fast-moving energy of classic pulp adventure.
View all books
by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster

by Murray Leinster