Автор - Роберт Силверберг

Schadrach im Feuerofen

Der 3. Weltkrieg wurde mit biologischen Waffen ausgetragen. Die "Fäulnis", die Menschen bei lebendigem Leib verrotten lässt, grassiert auch noch Jahrzehnte nach Kriegsende. Es gibt ein Serum, doch das ist teuer und nur den Privilegierten vorbehalten. Die heutigen Machtblöcke der Erde sind zerstoben. Ein greiser Mongole regiert den Weltstaat, ein Tyrann, der sich für die Inkarnation Dschingis Khans und Maos zugleich hält. Sein erdumspannender Geheimdienstapparat ist allgegenwärtig; die Überwachung der Untertanen lückenlos. Er bestimmt, wer der Gnade teilhaftig wird, das Serum zu erhalten. Ein Entzug kommt dem Todesurteil gleich. Schadrach Mordecai, ein junger Neger aus den ehemaligen USA, ist der Leibarzt des Tyrannen. Er ist persönlich für den Gesundheitszustand des Herrschers verantwortlich, dessen Körper zum größten Teil bereits aus Ersatzorganen besteht. Und Schadrach Mordecai weiß, daß bei den perfekten Sicherheitsmaßnahmen er der einzige Mensch auf der Welt ist, der Hand an das greise Monstrum legen könnte. Doch er ist auf besondere Weise mit dem Tyrannen verbunden: Die Schmerzen des Herrschers sind auch die seinen.

Shadrach in the Furnace

In the twenty-first century, a battered world is ruled by a crafty old tyrant, Genghis II Mao IV Khan. The Khan is ninety-three years old, his life systems sustained by the skill of Mordecai Shadrach, a brilliant young surgeon whose chief function is to replace the Khan’s worn-out organs. Within the vast tower-complex, the most advanced equipment is dedicated to three top-priority projects, each designed to keep the Khan immortal. Most sinister of these is Project Avatar, by which the Khan’s mind and persona are to be transferred to a younger body. Nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1976. Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1977.

Shadrach nella fornace

Siamo nel 2012 e la popolazione del mondo è stata decimata dalle guerre batteriologiche. Il nostro pianeta è dominato da un vecchio e astuto tiranno che si fa chiamare Genghis II Mao IV Khan e che abita in un palazzo a forma di torre, nella Mongolia. Il Khan è ormai giunto al novantatreesimo anno d’età e lo mantengono in vita i trapianti che gli pratica il suo medico personale, Shadrach Mordecai, talmente devoto al proprio paziente da portare, impiantati nel corpo, una serie di “sensori” telemetrici con i quali controlla d’istante in istante le condizioni di Genghis Mao. Un’altra importante funzione di Mordecai è quella di dirigere tre distinte ricerche mediche, tutt’e tre miranti ad assicurare al vecchio tiranno l’immortalità fisica. La più avanzata delle tre è il Progetto Avatar, consistente nel trapiantare il cervello, e dunque la personalità, del Khan nel corpo di un uomo più giovane. Mordecai sa che il corpo in cui dovrà trapiantare il cervello del Khan è quello dell’erede designato, un giovanotto ignaro del suo destino (e, in generale, non troppo sveglio) chiamato Mangu; ma dopo qualche tempo scopre di dover sostituire Mangu. Inizia così per Mordecai un pericoloso gioco d’azzardo: se il piano difensivo da lui elaborato avrà successo, egli potrà diventare il padrone del mondo. Se non avrà successo, dovrà fare dono del suo corpo al rapace Genghis Mao.

Sorcerers of Majipoor

The aged Pontifex Prankipin is near death and the Coronal Lord Confalume will now succeed as Pontifex. It is no secret that the next Coronal should be Prince Prestimion of Muldemar. But Korsibar has a new quarry—the Starburst Crown.

Stacja Hawksbilla

Stany Zjednoczone wpadają w sidła demokracji. Pod populistycznymi hasłami władzę przejmują syndykaliści. Ameryka w szponach dyktatury oznacza tajną policję, aresztowania i zsyłki opozycjonistów. Rząd deklaruje jednak, że nie wykonuje wyroków śmierci. Gdzie więc znikają działacze opozycji? W przeszłości! Oto w przeszłości o miliard lat odległej od nas syndykaliści tworzą stację zsyłki niewygodnych politycznie więźniów. To czas, kiedy na Ziemi nie ukształtowały się jeszcze obecne kontynenty, a pierwsze zwierzęta nie wyszły na ląd. A podróż w czasie może się odbywać tylko w jedną stronę…

Starman's Quest

The complicated problem of time lags and speedups in space travel brings about a conflict between twin brothers.

Stochastyk

Kiedy przeszłość krzyżuje się z przyszłością… Nowy York. Ostatnie miesiące XX wieku. Lew Nicholas — ekspert w dziedzinie prognozowania przyszłości — osiągnął pozycję szarej eminencji, „twórcy królów”, człowieka, który mógłby doprowadzić Paula Quinna do Białego Domu w roku 2004.

Sundance

The Alien Years

The Carmichael family are leading the fight against the Entities from their mountain ranch. While they search for Prime, the centre of alien intelligence, a quisling in Prague manages to win the Entities’ confidence. But what legacy will the aliens leave behind them when they go?

The Book of Changes

The story presented here offers an episode dating back to a time before any of the Majipoor novels published so far — a period more than four thousand years before Valentine’s time, more than three thousand years before Prestimion. But its setting is ten thousand years after the time of the first human settlement, and the early history of Majipoor is already becoming legendary.

The Fangs of the Trees

The Longest Way Home

The “Folk” were first to arrive on this faraway planet, pushing aside the docile, intelligent aboriginal races they encountered. The “Masters” followed to subjugate the careless, complacent fellow humans who preceded them here. And so it has remained for ages. Fifteen-year-old Joseph Master Keilloran has known only privilege, respect, and civility. Born to take over the reins of House Keilloran when he comes of age, he awakens one night in the Great House of distant relatives to the thunder of battle—a terrifying din that has not been heard on this peaceful world since the original Conquest. All around him are devastation and death, as the local Folk rise up to wreak vengeance on the unsuspecting, unprepared Masters. With the aid of a still-faithful servant, Joseph barely escapes with his life. But now he is stranded and alone 10,000 miles from his home. Damned by his birth and class—surrounded by enemies who would kill him if they found him—Joseph must now embark on a journey of unimaginable distance toward a home that may also already be in ruins. His odyssey will be more terrible—and more wondrous—than he ever imagined, as a world he was kept sheltered from comes alive before him. Venturing deep into the lives and cultures of remarkable Indigene peoples—driven to hunt, scratch, and scheme for his survival—a resourceful young Master will be created anew as he is forced to reassess his homeworld and his place in it. Despite what is waiting for him at the finish, nothing here will ever be the same again. And Joseph will become a man before his long journey ends.