Indirection

"Indirection" by Everett B. Cole is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around the life of Elwar Forell, who uses his talent for storytelling to weave tales that hold deeper truths and suggest hidden realities about extraterrestrial beings and their potential influence on humanity. The blend of fantasy and science fiction presents the challenges Forell faces as he grapples with his purpose while maintaining the secrecy of a much larger cosmic narrative. In "Indirection," Elwar Forell is a young man living in a primitive society, secretly trained by a scholar who possesses advanced knowledge and technology. When drought threatens his community, Elwar's curiosity leads him to inadvertently invoke forces beyond his understanding, resulting in chaotic consequences. As various galactic entities become aware of the situation, they recognize the potential threat of this primitive culture gaining too much knowledge of the cosmos. Elwar is then thrust into a larger purpose where he must craft stories that promote cooperation and a beneficial perception of advanced beings, all while obscuring the truth of their existence. The narrative unfolds as Forell navigates his dual identity as both a storyteller and a being of importance in the cosmic order. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Everett B. Cole (1910-2001) was an American writer of science fiction short stories and a professional soldier. He fought at Omaha Beach during World War II and worked as a signal maintenance and property officer at Fort Douglas, Utah, retiring in 1960. He got a bachelor's degree in Math and Physics and became a Math, Physics, and Chemistry teacher at Yorktown High School in Texas. His first science fiction story, "Philosophical Corps" was published in the magazine Astounding in 1951. His fix-up of that story and two others, The Philosophical Corps, was published by Gnome Press in 1962. A second novel, The Best Made Plans, was serialized in Astounding in 1959, but never published in book form. He also co-authored historical books about the south Texas region.