The work is a first-person report by an extraterrestrial investigator detailing an experimental process on a distant planet devoted to the creation and evolution of life through a unique, crystalline form of carbon. In this experiment, self-aware diamond beings, initially designed to harness and convert light energy, develop an inflated ego and a creative drive that leads them to manipulate elemental chemistry. They first establish simple organic compounds and vegetation, then move on to creating animal life that operates on a novel principle: using heat energy generated from the oxidation of organic matter rather than direct radiant energy. The narrative centers on one preeminent diamond being, known as Prime, whose ambitious experiments gradually lead to the emergence of a complex life-form—the human. This human is designed with advanced anatomical systems including an intricately networked circulatory system and a brain, which while capable of thought and memory, is also burdened with a potent instinct for self-preservation. Prime’s experiments, marked by a mix of egotism and inventive brilliance, inadvertently inject into his creations an overwhelming drive for individual survival that ultimately proves self-destructive. As the newly created human beings develop, they begin to harness scientific knowledge, culminating in the discovery of atomic power. This breakthrough triggers a vicious cycle of technological advancement and warfare, leading to catastrophic nuclear conflicts that result in widespread annihilation. Prime’s originally controlled experiment spirals into chaos as the survival instinct embedded within humans drives them toward self-destruction, even as they remain, paradoxically, programmed to revere and worship their diamond creators. In a dramatic climax, Prime, now weakened and marked by the ravages of radiation and oxidation, encounters the last surviving human—a female scientist living in isolation. Their interaction exposes the core themes of creator versus creation, as the human simultaneously admires and pleads with the diminished diamond. She embodies the fierce will to live, using her charm and intellect to seek concessions from Prime, ultimately demanding a mate to ensure the continuation of the cycle of worship and adoration toward the diamond beings. Despite his lingering pride and reluctance, Prime concedes to her demands, reflecting the cyclical nature of creation and destruction inherent in their intertwined destinies. The overall narrative functions as an allegory regarding the perils of unchecked self-awareness and egotism, the contradictions inherent in life driven by an overwhelming survival instinct, and the inevitable downfall that can occur when creators lose control over their creations. It questions the wisdom of granting life based on pride and ambition, suggesting that such endeavors, regardless of their inventive genius, may sow the seeds of their own undoing.
By Winston K. Marks · First published 1968 · Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Satire