Oridin's Formula

"Oridin's Formula" by R. R. Winterbotham is a science fiction story written in the early 1940s. The narrative explores themes of ambition, power, and the complexity of human desires as it unfolds on the planetoid Azair. The primary focus is on a mathematical equation that has the potential to grant its possessor the ability to control the universe. The story centers around Oridin, a recluse who possesses a secret formula related to certainty in success, which a space pirate named Caddo seeks in order to conquer Earth and thus rule the universe. Their interaction develops into a psychological clash, as Caddo initially threatens Oridin but soon finds himself captivated by the promise of the formula. As Caddo becomes increasingly obsessed with the notion of achieving absolute power through the mathematical principles laid out by Oridin, he loses his grip on reality, ultimately becoming a mere husk of his former self. The tale concludes with Oridin returning to his solitude, highlighting the perils of unrestrained ambition while illustrating the enigmatic relationship between knowledge, power, and personal fulfillment. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Russell Robert Winterbotham was an American writer of western and science fiction genre fiction, and the author of instructional pamphlets and several Big Little Books. He also wrote crime stories and one science fiction novel using the pen name "J. Harvey Bond". Another science fiction novel used the pseudonym "Franklin Hadley". He also wrote scripts for Fred Harman's western comic Red Ryder.