Earthly Powers by Carmen Sylva
The narrative follows Strife's relentless pursuit of Truth, depicted as a journey fraught with challenges and encounters. Strife, driven by a desire for knowledge, seeks the elusive Truth, who resides in a crystal castle atop a mountain. Along the way, he meets Query, a whimsical being who leads him to Doubt, a figure representing uncertainty. Their struggle culminates in a year-long battle, after which Strife overcomes Doubt and continues his ascent. Upon reaching the mountain's peak, Strife encounters Innocence, the daughter of Truth, and becomes enamored with her beauty. In a moment of distraction, he abandons his quest for Truth, choosing instead to pursue Innocence. This decision leads to dire consequences, as Truth, sensing her daughter's peril, descends the mountain only to find Strife has blinded himself in his obsession. In her anguish, Truth casts Innocence away, leading her to Doubt, where she ultimately meets her demise. Innocence's death births a new entity, a child of Falsehood, who embodies the chaos and deception that ensue from Strife's actions. The story explores themes of knowledge, the consequences of obsession, and the interplay between truth and falsehood, ultimately illustrating the tragic outcomes of Strife's relentless quest.
By Carmen Sylva · First published 1980 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy · 2,908 words
First lines
"Where is Truth? I want to go to her," said Strife.
"She lives in a castle of rock crystal, high up above, on the highest mountain in the world, and looks out thence on all the lands, and knows every thing, and whosoever attains thither finds everlasting rest; but I do not know the road."
What this Textopian page supports
Earthly Powers is listed on Textopian as a novel by Carmen Sylva, dated 1980 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Carmen Sylva
- Date: 1980 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
- Length: 2,908 words
- Structure: 1 section, 67 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Earthly Powers by Carmen Sylva
- 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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Genres
- Science Fiction — The title 'Earthly Powers' suggests a potential exploration of supernatural or extraordinary abilities related to the Earth.
- Adventure — The term 'powers' denotes potential for action or transformative events typical to adventure narratives.
- Fantasy — The notion of 'earthly powers' can imply elements of the fantastical or the supernatural.
- Mystery — The ambiguity in the title suggests potential for a mystery or secrets to be revealed.
Tags
historical fiction · political intrigue · family saga · power dynamics · identity · cultural conflict · social commentary · religion · morality · betrayal · love · loss