Millennium

"Millennium" by Everett B. Cole is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story explores themes of advanced technology and its impact on civilizations, suggesting the dangerous potential of such technology when in the hands of those who are not ready for it. It introduces characters like Liewen Konar and Klion Meinora, who are engaged in recovering advanced equipment from a planet that has deteriorated over generations, set against a backdrop of a society that has regressed despite initially being gifted sophisticated tools. The opening of "Millennium" sets the stage for a narrative centered around the recovery of ancient, high-tech equipment by Konar and Meinora on a planet that has experienced a significant cultural collapse. They discover various pieces of worn technology and discuss the problematic history of previous operatives sent to this planet to preserve knowledge. As they work to assess what remains, the story shifts to a serf named Flor, who finds himself in a dire situation with an aging nobleman during a hunting expedition. The tension builds as Flor seizes a powerful coronet with mind-influencing abilities, setting off a chain of events that intertwine his fate with the intricate politics of nobility. This dual storyline hints at conflict, societal critique, and intrigue, laying an engaging groundwork for the unfolding drama. (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.