Showing results by author "H. Beam Piper" in All Categories

"Omnilingual" is a sci-fi short story written by H. Beam Piper. The story was originally published in 1957 in magazine-form. The work is unusual in focusing on the problem of archaeology on an alien culture... An expedition from Earth to Mars discovers a deserted city, the remains of an advanced civilization that died out 50,000 years before! The human scientists recover books and documents left behind, and are puzzled by their contents. Earnest young archeologist Martha Dane deciphers a few words.

From Astounding Tales Published February and March 1955 The Paratime Police had a real headache this time! Tracing one man in a population of millions is easy—compared to finding one gang hiding out on one of billions of probability lines! This story from 1955 has rocket ships, time travel, slaves, post-hypnotic suggestions, drugged citizens, and a complete disregard for human rights. And those are the good guys. As a look back in time at "classic" science fiction, it's an interesting snapshot of a time when tobacco was common, sexism was unconscious, and female characters were a long way ...

"Last Enemy" is a science fiction story written by H. Beam Piper, and is a part of his "Paratime" series. The title is a reference to 1 Corinthians 15:26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (KJV) It made its first appearance in August 1950, in Astounding Science Fiction magazine (now Analog). The story begins at a dinner party given by Garnon of Roxor. The party is a voluntary discarnation feast, or suicide party.

"Naudsonce" is a science fiction classic about the first contact between humans and non-humans. Here, it's not really violence or weapons that will decide things - its communication, plain and not so simple! The work is written by H. Beam Piper, published in 1962.

World War IV has dragged on for 12 years and the whole world is drained and tired of the killing and destruction. One man, a high school chemistry teacher from St. Louis in the USA, is serving his latest forced stint in the UN forces when something strange happens to him. He dies but yet he doesn't. What if you had the power to bring peace to the entire world? What would you do?

"Temple Trouble" is a sci-fi novella by author H. Beam Piper, published in 1957. It is part of his "Paratime Police" series. In this extremely intricate and complex story the Paratime Police faces the trouble and potential dangers of travellers in parallel times... and there might be millions of parallel times! "Were you waiting long, gentlemen?' Stranor Sleth asked. 'I was holding Sunset Sacrifice up in the temple.' 'No, we just got here,' Brannad Klav said.

Bishop Berkeley's famous question about the sound of a falling tree may have no standing in Science. But there is a highly interesting question about "sound" that Science needs to consider... A classic science fiction novelette by H. Beam Piper, first published in Analog Science Fact-Science Fiction in 1962.

Poictesme is known as the junkyard planet. A poor, sparse population ekes out a meager existence by scavenging the remains of abandoned military bases left behind after the last interstellar war. Young Conn Maxwell returns from school on Terra with the news that Merlin, a military super-computer, may be among the spoils, which they think might be their ticket out of poverty. But is Merlin just a myth? And if they find it, will it make them rich, or tear them apart?

Fenris isn't a hell planet, but it's nobody's bargain. With 2,000-hour days and an 8,000-hour year, it alternates blazing heat with killing cold. A planet like that tends to breed a special kind of person: tough enough to stay alive and smart enough to make the best of it. When that kind of person discovers he's being cheated of wealth he's risked his life for, that kind of planet is ripe for revolution. Four-Day Planet is one of H. Beam Piper’s “Terro-Human Future History” novels, along with Ullr Uprising, The Cosmic Computer, and Space Viking.

H. Beam Piper wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of Paratime alternate history tales. This short story is the first of his Paratime tales. Verkan Vall is investigating the death of Gavran Sarn, a First Level noble who was killed in an auto accident on a Fourth Level timeline that might well have been our own....

Hunted and hated in two worlds, Hradzka dreamed of a monomaniac's glory, stranded in the past with his knowledge of the future, but he didn't know the past quite well enough. A classic science fiction novelette by H. Beam Piper, first published in 1950 in Future magazine.

There's some reaction these days that holds scientists responsible for war. Take it one step further: What happens if "book-learnin'" is held responsible? A classic science fiction novelette by H. Beam Piper, first published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1953.

"The Keeper" is an absorbing sci-fi story that takes place during the time of the next ice age, thousands of years after men have left Earth and colonized the stars. The Crown is stolen, and the Keeper and his great dog Brave start across the ice to get it back and kill the thieves, if he can. The story features a great plot and a fascinating main character. A gem of a tale by one of the true masters of the genre.

The natives of Kwannon practiced ritualistic magic under supervision of their Terran rulers. Hunting, farming and raising children required the spells only a shoonoon could cast. But when prophecies of the end of the world send the natives of Kwannon swarming, it may also be the end for the Earth and its humans! The natives actually desire the end of the world, as they've been promised a much better life by the shoonoon.

"Hunter Patrol" is a 1959 sci-fi story co-authored by H. Beam Piper and John J. McGuire. A soldier travels into the future to kill a dictator. After completing the mission and returning home to his present time, he doesn't remember what he has done. With him he has an envelope with the formula for a fizzy drink that would make him able to conquer the whole world... possibly.

Natives of the distant planet called "Kwannon" think their world is about to end due to their religious beliefs, and in preparing for the apocalypse, they may be unnecessarily bringing about their own demise. The planetary government can't overcome its own bureaucracy to help them, and the military is overwhelmed. A single newsman tries to change the course of a whole people's belief system but, can he do it in time and to save their world?