Hostage of Tomorrow
In a post-apocalyptic future, Ray Manning witnesses the chaos of a world ravaged by war and tyranny. As remnants of the Dritten Reich lie in ruins, he embarks on a reconnaissance mission with fellow soldiers to capture a brilliant scientist, Dr. Pankraz Kahl, who possesses knowledge that could turn the tide of the conflict. However, during their operation, they stumble upon Kahl's secret invention: a time machine capable of transporting them to the future. When the machine is activated, Manning and his companion, Eddie Dugan, find themselves in the year 2051, where they discover that the Nazis have triumphed in World War II and established a brutal regime. The world is now a dystopian landscape, with the remnants of humanity living in oppression. They are captured by German soldiers but manage to escape with the help of an underground resistance group. The resistance, led by Jerry Kane, reveals that the Germans are planning a catastrophic attack using radioactive dust to exterminate the remaining population of America. The group devises a plan to sabotage the German operation by infiltrating a space ship, the _Siegfried_, which is set to launch the deadly dust into the atmosphere. As they execute their plan, they face numerous challenges, including betrayal and the loss of comrades. In a climactic confrontation aboard the _Siegfried_, they manage to take control of the ship and redirect its course to unleash the dust on Germany instead. This act of vengeance is fueled by the desire to end the tyranny that has plagued the world for a century. Ultimately, Manning and Dugan realize the futility of their actions and the moral implications of their revenge. They decide to use the time machine to return to 1935, hoping to prevent the rise of the Nazi regime altogether. As they prepare to leave, they destroy the time machine to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, thus sealing their fate and the fate of history. The narrative explores themes of power, morality, and the consequences of revenge, ultimately questioning whether the cycle of violence can ever be broken.
By Robert Abernathy · First published 1970 · Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure · 6 chapters · 22,772 words
First lines
Was Earth on the wrong time-track? Ray Manning stared as nation smashed nation and humans ran in yelping, slavering packs under a sky pulsing with evil energy -- and knew the answer lay a hundred years back. Could he return?
It was the end of March, and the wreck of the Dritten Reich lay in colossal ruin across Europe, where people were only beginning to crawl out of their burrows to face the job of rebuilding a world for better or worse. In Germany itself, the Allied Armies, driving forward behind the iron spearheads of their aircraft and their armor, were closing in to smash the still-defiant nucleus of the old world that had been for worse.
What this Textopian page supports
Hostage of Tomorrow is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert Abernathy, dated 1970 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Robert Abernathy
- Date: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure, Dystopian, Drama
- Length: 22,772 words
- Structure: 6 chapters, 450 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hostage of Tomorrow by Robert Abernathy
- 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
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book explores futuristic themes and speculative concepts.
- Thriller — The plot involves suspenseful and high-stakes situations.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration and peril.
- Dystopian — The setting may reflect a society characterized by oppression or control.
Tags
science fiction · dystopia · adventure · suspense · thriller · future · technology · survival · conflict · politics · society · humanity
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI