Dearest by H. Beam Piper (1950)
The story takes place on a planet where the inhabitants are descended from humans who were transported there centuries ago. The society is divided into two main groups: the Lords and the Commoners. The Lords hold power and wealth, while the Commoners are forced to live in poverty. A young man named Kinnally Colver, a member of the Commoner class, becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the ruling Lords. He discovers that he has a unique ability that makes him a key player in the rebellion. As the story unfolds, Kinnally's actions have far-reaching consequences for both himself and the planet as a whole. The novel explores themes of social hierarchy, power struggles, and the impact of individual actions on society.
By H. Beam Piper · First published 1950 · Genre: Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery · 8,045 words
First lines
Colonel Ashley Hampton chewed his cigar and forced himself to relax, his glance slowly traversing the room, lingering on the mosaic of book-spines in the tall cases, the sunlight splashed on the faded pastel colors of the carpet, the soft-tinted autumn landscape outside the French windows, the trophies of Indian and Filipino and German weapons on the walls. He could easily feign relaxation here in the library of "Greyrock," as long as he looked only at these familiar inanimate things and avoided the five people gathered in the room with him, for all of them were enemies.
What this Textopian page supports
Dearest is listed on Textopian as a novel by H. Beam Piper, 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: H. Beam Piper
- Date: 1950 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural, Drama
- Length: 8,045 words
- Structure: 1 section, 140 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Dearest by H. Beam Piper
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Dearest?
- How does this novel by H. Beam Piper 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 story involves a non-corporeal entity communicating telepathically, which aligns with science fiction themes of exploring the unknown and speculative elements.
- Psychological Thriller — The plot centers around the protagonist's mental state and the tension of being declared insane, creating a suspenseful atmosphere.
- Mystery — The narrative includes elements of intrigue and the unraveling of a plot against the protagonist, typical of mystery genres.
- Supernatural — The presence of an invisible entity and references to spirits and spiritualism contribute to supernatural themes.
Tags
Science Fiction · Alternate History · Time Travel · Adventure · Romance · Historical Fiction · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Pulp Fiction · Speculative Fiction · Alternate Reality · Parallel Universe