
In the dust‑filled ruins of an alien citadel, a young Terran archaeologist named Rynason leans over a trembling stylus, coaxing a massive, ancient being to speak through a crackling interpreter. The creature, Horng, is a relic of a civilization that vanished millennia ago, its voice thin and dry as parchment, its memories tied to a forgotten god‑king called Kor. As Rynason translates the alien’s fragmented recollections, he discovers that Kor once commanded knowledge powerful enough to reshape worlds—knowledge that humans now seek to claim.
The fragile alliance between the explorers and the stone‑skinned giant quickly frays. Among the human team are Manning, whose colonizing plans ignore the native life, and Malhomme, a charismatic preacher whose loyalties are unclear, while Mara wrestles with the moral dilemma of “saving” an alien race that may not want salvation. The deeper they dig, the more they realize that awakening Kor’s legacy could unleash a threat far beyond any single planet, forcing everyone to decide whether curiosity is worth the potential cost.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (180K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-03-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1937–1987
Best known as a sharp-eyed editor as well as a writer, he helped shape modern science fiction through influential anthologies and a keen sense for new talent. His work on series like Universe and yearly best-of collections made him a trusted guide for generations of readers.
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