Saknarth by Donald A. Wollheim
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"Saknarth" by Millard Verne Gordon is a science fiction novella published in the early 1940s. The narrative centers on themes of enlightenment versus oppression, as it explores the life of Saknarth, a Master Astrologer who grapples with the tension between his understanding of the cosmos and the constraints imposed by the ruling priesthood. The story unfolds on Mars, capturing the struggle between knowledge and ignorance within a society that fears the power
of learning. The plot follows Saknarth, who recalls a critical prophecy given to him by Kwarit during his youth. As he prepares horoscopes for the Emperor, he becomes increasingly aware of the oppressive nature of the priesthood, which stifles knowledge and enforces superstition. Intrigued by Kwarit's claims of lights on the Morning Star, he sneaks into the Imperial Museum to gaze through a forbidden telescope, discovering evidence of civilization on a nearby planet. Realizing the implications of his findings, he writes a manifesto urging rebellion against the priestly elite. However, he is quickly apprehended and sentenced to execution, yet he finds solace in having shared his revolutionary message just before his fate is sealed. The story illustrates the importance of knowledge and the courage required to challenge authoritarian rule. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Wollheim, Donald A., 1914-1990 |
|---|---|
| Title | Saknarth |
| Original Publication | New York, NY: Columbia Publications Inc., 1942. |
| Series Title | Produced from Science Fiction Quarterly Spring 1942. |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 83.7 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Martians -- Fiction |
| Subject | Mars (Planet) -- Fiction |
| Subject | Astrologers -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 73218 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-73218-3 |
| Release Date | Mar 21, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 413 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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