Average Bufph Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Leigh Brackett
1980-05
Two generations after the Destruction, rumors persisted about a secret desert hideaway where scientists worked with dangerous machines and where men plotted to revive the cities. Almost a continent away, Len Coulter heard whisperings that fired his imagination. Then one day he found a strange wooden box.
Brackett's post-apocalyptic narrative offers a rigorous examination of the philosophical implications of technological regression and the human quest for knowledge. The novel's depiction of a society that has renounced technology in favor of a return to agrarian simplicity provides a compelling backdrop for exploring the ethical dilemmas of progress and the nature of human ingenuity. The narrative's philosophical depth and speculative rigor are both stimulating and thought-provoking, making it a valuable addition to the discourse on existential and sociopolitical themes. The prose, while at times dense, is a testament to the author's imaginative prowess and her ability to craft a world that is both alien and reflective of contemporary anxieties.
