Lost Art by George O. Smith

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About this eBook

Author Smith, George O. (George Oliver), 1911-1981
Illustrator Orban, Paul, 1896-1974
Title Lost Art
Original Publication United States: Street & Smith Publications, Incorporated,1943.
Series Title Venus Equilateral
Note Reading ease score: 84.4 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "Lost Art" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novella written in the early 1940s. Set against the backdrop of a futuristic Mars, the story explores the rediscovery of advanced technology from an ancient Martian civilization, particularly focusing on a mysterious beam tower and a technical manual detailing its functions. The narrative delves into themes of technological evolution and the cyclical nature of knowledge, suggesting that breakthroughs in science can become enigmas for future generations. The plot follows two Terran characters, Barney Carroll and Jim Baler, as they uncover remnants of a lost Martian technology, initially mistaking it for an abandoned signal device. They excavate a beam tower that contains a complex electronic artifact linked to a manual filled with advanced mathematics and engineering principles. As they experiment with the technology, they accidentally harness its power and inadvertently create a series of citywide electrical disruptions. Despite their initial failures and humorous misadventures, their perseverance leads them to realize the device's potential as a method of transmitting electric power over vast distances. Ultimately, the story culminates in their understanding that while this technology could revolutionize energy distribution, the practicality of its use may be lost in translation to their own civilization, reflecting on the continuity of knowledge across time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Martians -- Fiction
Subject Mars (Planet) -- Fiction
Subject Electrical engineers -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 67923
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jul 6, 2022
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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