
A weary but brilliant scientist, Dr. Walter Goodwin, returns from a remote Asian expedition forever changed. He shares his tale with a fellow scholar, beginning on a field of blue poppies at the foot of an unnamed mountain, where they first encounter a strange, shimmering metal that seems to possess a mind of its own. The narrative weaves together vivid botanical observations, eerie landscapes, and the unsettling realization that the metal is more than mere ore—it reacts, communicates, and hints at an ancient intelligence.
As the expedition pushes deeper, the team confronts bizarre phenomena: humming drums of thunder, flickering portals of flame, and shapes that drift in mist like living statues. Their quest to understand the metallic entity draws them into hidden valleys, forgotten ruins, and confrontations with forces that blur the line between science and myth. Listeners are invited to follow the early stages of this uncanny adventure, feeling the tension between curiosity and the unknown.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (472K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Judy Boss, and David Widger
Release date
2002-10-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1884–1943
Best known for lush, adventurous fantasy and early science fiction, he mixed lost worlds, strange civilizations, and eerie atmosphere in stories that became hugely popular with pulp readers. Alongside his fiction, he built a major career in journalism and magazine editing.
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