The Blue Tower by Evelyn E. Smith
Ludovick Eversole, a contented young poet living under the benevolent rule of the Belphins, questions a passing Belphin about why his alien-derived masters work while humanity enjoys perfect leisure; the Belphin credits their guardianship to "the power of love" and reverence for The Belphin of Belphins, who dwells in the Blue Tower. Visiting his beloved Corisande Flockhart at her family's villa, Ludovick finds her grandfather Osmond and various "uncles" openly dissident, mourning lost freedom and frontiers and needling him with rumors: that there is really only one Belphin, housed in a tank in the Tower, and that the rest are remote-controlled robots; that two men, Mieczyslaw and George, died attacking the Tower; and that the Belphins' unexplained power source, not the traded resources, actually runs Earth's technology. Ludovick defends the regime, loyally reports the Flockharts as conspirators to a Belphin, and is told they are known and harmless. Uneasy, he spies on the family that night and overhears Corisande discussing a secret weapon against the Belphins, confirming she too is part of the plot. Racked with guilt, he cannot decide whether to expose her. Corisande then comes to him secretly, explaining she invented a fictitious "secret weapon" of her own to buy time so Ludovick could warn the Belphins before her uncle's real device could be used; she insists only Ludovick can reach The Belphin of Belphins himself, since he would approach to warn rather than attack. Ludovick tries to warn ordinary Belphins, who grow increasingly rude and evasive, seemingly confirming they share one networked identity. He then forces his way into the Blue Tower, destroying the mechanical Belphins that try to stop him and passing unharmed through force barriers meant to be lethal to hostile attackers. Reaching the top, he breaks into the golden-doored chamber and releases noxious vapor that fatally poisons The Belphin of Belphins, who reveals he is the sole surviving alien, breathing his own atmosphere in his tank, and that the barriers respond only to hostility—so Ludovick's well-meaning persistence let him pass where Mieczyslaw and George could not. Dying, The Belphin laments an Earth proverb about being protected from enemies but not from friends, and expires in Ludovick's arms; no more Belphins come to replace him. When the Flockharts arrive, Corisande reveals that Ludovick himself was her true "secret weapon," his sincere love-driven mission being the only thing capable of bypassing the Tower's defenses. Hailed as the Belphin-slayer, Ludovick is made humanity's first President and compelled to marry Corisande. With the Belphins gone, all their automated systems—transport, climate control, food synthesis—break down, plunging Earth into famine, riot, plague, and war reminiscent of the pre-Belphin past, for which Ludovick is universally blamed. Resentful that Corisande had sent him to the Tower without certainty he would survive, he eventually has her poisoned after thirty years as Dictator of Earth and takes a new young wife, finding no more happiness with her than before.
By Evelyn E. Smith · First published 1950 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Social Commentary · 6,325 words
First lines
Ludovick Eversole sat in the golden sunshine outside his house, writing a poem as he watched the street flow gently past him. There were very few people on it, for he lived in a slow part of town, and those who went in for travel generally preferred streets where the pace was quicker.
Moreover, on a sultry spring afternoon like this one, there would be few people wandering abroad. Most would be lying on sun-kissed white beaches or in sun-drenched parks, or, for those who did not fancy being either kissed or drenched by the sun, basking in the comfort of their own air-conditioned villas.
What this Textopian page supports
The Blue Tower is listed on Textopian as a novel by Evelyn E. Smith, dated 1950 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Evelyn E. Smith
- Date: 1950 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Social Commentary, Romance, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 6,325 words
- Structure: 1 section, 145 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Blue Tower by Evelyn E. Smith
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative explores themes of alien governance, societal structure, and the implications of advanced technology, characteristic of the science fiction genre.
- Fantasy — The presence of the Belphins, a non-human species with unique abilities and a mystical tower, introduces fantastical elements to the story.
- Social Commentary — The book critiques societal norms, freedom, and the nature of happiness under an alien regime, reflecting on human conditions and governance.
- Romance — The protagonist's love for Corisande adds a romantic subplot that influences his decisions and conflicts throughout the story.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Detective · Fiction · Crime · Investigation · Murder · Death · Family · Secrets · Lies