Conrad Nomikos is an official tasked with managing Earth's ruins centuries after a nuclear catastrophe forced humanity to flee to distant star systems. To the displaced humans, Earth is now a museum or a graveyard, largely owned by the Vegans, a blue-skinned alien race. Conrad, who possesses inexplicable longevity and immense strength, is assigned to escort a Vegan influential named Cort Mishtigo on a tour of the Mediterranean. Along the way, he navigates political conspiracies and fights mutated beasts while concealing his true identity and ancient history.
Readers of mid-century speculative fiction choose this book for its fusion of classical mythology with post-atomic survival. It attracts those interested in how legendary figures might be reinterpreted through biological mutation and high technology. The reader finishes the story with a perspective on how cultural identity persists after environmental collapse and an understanding of the tension between planetary preservation and alien bureaucracy. It provides a specific look at a protagonist who functions as both a bureaucrat and a living folk hero in a world reclaimed by wilderness.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1966
- Language
- EN
