Design For Doomsday by Bryce Walton

Name: Design For Doomsday
Author: Bryce Walton

In a dystopian future, Earth is under Martian occupation, ruled by a tyrannical figure known as Zharkon. Guardsman Venard and his companion Larson are imprisoned in a concentration camp, facing imminent death as the Martians retaliate against Terran resistance. The atmosphere is one of despair, with prisoners resigned to their fate, while Venard clings to a memory-crystal containing a holographic image of his lost love, Vale. This crystal holds the potential for explosive destruction, offering a means of escape from the horrors of the experimental wards where prisoners are subjected to gruesome experiments. As they await their fate, Venard grapples with the possibility of an underground resistance on Mars that may have succeeded in injuring Zharkon, which could destabilize the Martian regime. The narrative explores themes of hope, despair, and the struggle for freedom against overwhelming odds. Venard's determination to resist, even in the face of death, contrasts sharply with Larson's fear and resignation. The story culminates in a tense moment of decision, as the two men confront their mortality and the possibility of rebellion, highlighting the human spirit's resilience amidst oppression.

By Bryce Walton · First published 1976 · Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Suspense · 6 chapters · 18,963 words

First lines

Slogging through Venus' reeking muck and groping horrors toward the forbidding dome of Solar Science City -- treasure-vault of the best brains in the System -- Guardsman Venard remembered the frightened whispers: "An evil god rules there! "

The tone of the slurred, emotionless voice was cold and deadly, as were the tones of all Martians who had taken to their grotesque hearts the mystic, dictatorial disease of Zharkonism. It droned an implacable death song from the audio. It echoed horribly down the shadow-eaten labyrinth of that sprawling death-mart which was officially labeled Terro Concentration Camp Seven.

What this Textopian page supports

Design For Doomsday is listed on Textopian as a novel by Bryce Walton, dated 1976 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Bryce Walton
Date: 1976 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Suspense, Thriller, Adventure
Length: 18,963 words
Structure: 6 chapters, 334 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — The book's elements such as futuristic scenarios, advanced science, post-apocalyptic themes, and technology relate it directly to the science fiction genre.
Post-Apocalyptic — The title and the plot indicate an apocalyptic event and its aftermath, which is a signature characteristic of the post-apocalyptic genre.
Suspense — The book's intense and dramatic situations, in conjunction with uncertainty about the impending 'doomsday', place it within the suspense genre.
Thriller — The book's fast pacing, tension, and excitement are all factors that qualify it as a thriller.