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Island in the Sky
| Author: | Manly Wade Wellman |
| Publisher: |
Avalon Books, 1961 |
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| Book Type: | Novel |
| Genre: | Science-Fiction |
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Synopsis
After twenty years in prison, deep in the bowels of the earth, Blackie Peyton found himself a free man, back on the surface again. But it didn't take him long to discover that his freedom was illusory, as was the freedom of everyone else in the city. The dreaded wars had come and gone; and the Airmen had taken control to rebuild from the ruins and prevent further conflict. All the survivors were gathered into cities, which had no contact with each other. All aircraft was restricted to the ruling class of Airmen, whose control was assured by the island in the sky.
The Island was a platform a mile in diameter, atomic-powered and set in a closed orbit some fifteen miles above Earth-an orbit which carried it over all the cities now remaining on Earth. Here the Airmen lived in their own city; from this point they could observe and control all that went on below. Any city in rebellion could quickly be bombed into submission.
Life was hard for surface people. The rich were taxed to the breaking point, and the poor barely kept alive. The Airmen had revived the old Roman custom of "bread and circuses," to divert the hostility of the ruled; and gladiatorial games were produced each week in a monster stadium, men pitted against all manner of wild animals and each other.
Sight of the flying island gave Blackie Peyton a dream, a dream of someday getting up there where no surface dwellers and no women-even Airmen's wives-were permitted. Then he and a newly found friend were seized by the press gang which combed the city for gladiatorial recruits, and Peyton found himself working for General Argyle, Airman in charge of the Circus Maximus and boss of New York.
Here is a different novel of worlds to come, and tomorrow's struggle for freedom.
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