The Monster That Threatened the Universe

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Winterbotham, R. R. (Russell Robert), 1904-1971.

Contributor:

Lynch, Don (Artist)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Monster That Threatened the Universe" by R. R. Winterbotham is a science fiction novella published in the early 1940s. The narrative explores themes surrounding the nature of progress and individuality through the confrontation between humanity and a colossal, monstrous creature named Limio that inhabits a dying star in a black hole. As the story unfolds, it reflects on the implications of progress, competition, and existence within the universe. The book follows Marmaduke Karns, a man facing execution due to his act of individualism in a world where a mind-controlling gland extract has eradicated criminality and individuality. After being instructed to confront Limio, who threatens space navigation and absorbs life forms, Marmaduke embarks on a dangerous mission accompanied by Commander General Adstrom and his daughter, Sandra. Through a series of tense encounters and philosophical discussions with Limio, Karns realizes that the antidote to the extract he possesses represents not just survival, but a return to individuality and progress. As he introduces chaos into Limio's mind-turning the creature into multiple intelligences-he ultimately challenges the concept of progress, highlighting the importance of diversity and conflict in fostering it. The story concludes with a transformative effect on both the human race and Limio as they begin to navigate their existential growths and conflicts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 77.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2020-04-19