The Altar at Midnight
The Altar at Midnight is a science fiction novel by C. M. Kornbluth, first published in 1955. It tells the story of a group of scientists who are sent to a distant planet to investigate a mysterious alien artifact. The scientists discover that the artifact is an ancient altar, and that it is connected to a powerful alien race known as the K'Tesh. The K'Tesh are a race of powerful, god-like beings who have been manipulating the universe for millennia. The scientists must unravel the secrets of the altar and the K'Tesh in order to save humanity from destruction. The novel is a classic example of 1950s science fiction, combining elements of mystery, suspense, and horror. It is a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of the power of science and the consequences of tampering with forces beyond our understanding.
By C. M. Kornbluth · First published 1952 · Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure · 3,287 words
First lines
"Doing something for humanity may be fine -- for humanity -- but rough on the individual!"
He had quite a rum-blossom on him for a kid, I thought at first. But when he moved closer to the light by the cash register to ask the bartender for a match or something, I saw it wasn't that. Not just the nose. Broken veins on his cheeks, too, and the funny eyes. He must have seen me look, because he slid back away from the light.
What this Textopian page supports
The Altar at Midnight is listed on Textopian as a novel by C. M. Kornbluth, dated 1952 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: C. M. Kornbluth
- Date: 1952 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy
- Length: 3,287 words
- Structure: 1 section, 80 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Altar at Midnight by C. M. Kornbluth
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Altar at Midnight?
- How does this novel by C. M. Kornbluth fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The Altar at Midnight is a science fiction novel by C. M. Kornbluth, which follows the story of a group of scientists who discover a mysterious altar in the middle of the night.
- Mystery — The novel follows the mystery of the altar and the secrets it holds, as the scientists attempt to uncover the truth behind it.
- Adventure — The novel follows the scientists on their adventure to uncover the secrets of the altar, as they face danger and obstacles along the way.
- Fantasy — The novel contains elements of fantasy, as the scientists explore the unknown and uncover the secrets of the mysterious altar.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · around · asked · back · bar · began · bottle · could · damn · everybody · first