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The Ideal   By: (1902-1935)

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The Ideal by Stanley Grauman Weinbaum is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that delves into the possibilities of creating the perfect being. Set in a future where advancements in technology have made it possible to design and manufacture the ideal human companion, the story follows the protagonist as he is faced with the moral implications of creating such a being.

Weinbaum does an excellent job of exploring the ethical dilemmas that arise from playing god and manipulating human characteristics to create an idealized version of a person. The novel raises important questions about the nature of perfection, free will, and the consequences of tampering with the natural order of things.

The characters are well-developed and the plot moves at a steady pace, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. Weinbaum's writing is engaging and thought-provoking, making The Ideal a compelling read for fans of science fiction and philosophical fiction alike.

Overall, The Ideal is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that explores complex themes with depth and nuance. Weinbaum's exploration of the consequences of creating the perfect being is both intriguing and morally challenging, leaving readers with much to ponder long after finishing the book.

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from A Martian Odyssey and Others published in 1949. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

THE IDEAL

"This," said the Franciscan, "is my Automaton, who at the proper time will speak, answer whatsoever question I may ask, and reveal all secret knowledge to me." He smiled as he laid his hand affectionately on the iron skull that topped the pedestal.

The youth gazed open mouthed, first at the head and then at the Friar. "But it's iron!" he whispered. "The head is iron, good father."

"Iron without, skill within, my son," said Roger Bacon. "It will speak, at the proper time and in its own manner, for so have I made it. A clever man can twist the devil's arts to God's ends, thereby cheating the fiend Sst! There sounds vespers! Plena gratia, ave Virgo "

But it did not speak. Long hours, long weeks, the doctor mirabilis watched his creation, but iron lips were silent and the iron eyes dull, and no voice but the great man's own sounded in his monkish cell, nor was there ever an answer to all the questions that he asked until one day when he sat surveying his work, composing a letter to Duns Scotus in distant Cologne one day

"Time is!" said the image, and smiled benignly... Continue reading book >>


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