
Aram Jerrold stands on the brink of execution, a lone dissident in a sprawling galactic empire where the Tetrarchy’s iron grip leaves no room for dissent. Accused of treason for daring to oppose the ruling Council, he endures endless interrogations, mind‑altering drugs, and a courtroom shrouded in darkness that mirrors the hopelessness of his fate. As the massive war machines of the Thirty Suns launch toward the void, the specter of cosmic annihilation looms over his personal tragedy.
Amid the bleak proceedings, a familiar face reappears—Deve Jennet, once a lover now bound to the ruthless Security Police. Their brief, charged encounter in the courtroom resurrects memories of tender nights and whispered hopes for freedom beyond the stars, even as the green uniform she now wears signals her allegiance to the very regime that condemned him. This tense first act pits love against loyalty, setting the stage for a desperate bid to preserve something precious amid a galaxy on the edge of ruin.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (94K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-03-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1921–2004
A prolific American science fiction and thriller writer, he moved easily from pulp-era space adventures to Cold War suspense. His stories appeared in major genre magazines, and his novels ranged from hard-driving future war tales to bestselling mainstream thrillers.
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