
A curious blend of medieval alchemy and contemporary engineering drives the story forward. In a secluded laboratory, a modern professor revives the legend of Roger Bacon’s iron automaton, hoping the ancient device will finally speak the secrets of time. When the lifeless head finally cracks a single, cryptic phrase, the quiet study erupts into a dialogue that blurs philosophy, science, and superstition. The protagonist, a reluctant heir to a powerful engineering dynasty, watches the experiment unfold while wrestling with his own stalled career and a string of personal distractions.
The narrative weaves witty banter with thoughtful reflections on the nature of knowledge, ambition, and the relentless march of time. As the automaton’s fragmented voice hints at hidden truths, the characters must decide whether to chase the promise of forgotten wisdom or confront the more immediate messes of their lives. The first act sets a tone of intellectual intrigue mixed with humor, inviting listeners to ponder how past ideas might echo in a modern world.
Language
en
Duration
~47 minutes (45K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-10-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1902–1935
A pioneer of early science fiction, he made a lasting impression with vivid imagination, witty storytelling, and some of the genre’s first truly memorable alien minds. Though his career was brief, his work helped raise expectations for what science fiction could do.
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