
The Doomsman
by Van Tassel Sutphen (1861–1945)
- Free to read
- 5 hours to read
- 31 chapters
- Reading level: 8th & 9th grade
"The Doomsman" by Van Tassel Sutphen is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where civilization has collapsed due to an event known as the Great Change, and human culture has regressed into feudal-like structures populated by different factions. The protagonist, Constans, a young man of noble birth, navigates a landscape filled with danger and conflict, particularly involving a group known as the Doomsmen. At the start of the narrative, Constans is introduced as he sits on a beach, contemplating the dark, mysterious horizon that suggests something ominous. This opening scene quickly escalates into an intense encounter when he is attacked by an assailant, prompting a thrilling chase through the woods as Constans tries to evade capture. Alive with the urgency to warn his family about the imminent threat posed by the Doomsmen, he later learns of alarming troubles concerning his sister, Issa. Through vivid descriptions and action-driven storytelling, the opening sets the stage for a world dominated by danger, familial loyalty, and the shadow of a bleak history, priming readers for the unfolding intrigue in the life of Constans and the impending clash of civilizations.
Read the opening
Chapter I
THE VERMILION FEATHER
A beach of yellow sand and a stranded log upon which sat a boy looking steadfastly out upon the shining waters.
It was a delicious morning in early May, and the sun was at his back, its warm rays falling upon him with affectionate caress. But the lad was plainly oblivious of his immediate surroundings; in spirit he had followed the leading of his eyes a league or more to the westward, where a mass of indefinable shadow bulked hugely upon the horizon line. Indefinable, in that it was neither forest nor mountain nor yet an atmospheric illusion produced by the presence of watery vapor. It did not change in density as does the true cloud; for all of its mistiness of outline there was an impression of solidity about its deeper shadows, something that the wind could not lift nor the light pierce. A mystery, and the boy devoured it with his eyes, his head bent forward and his shoulders held tensely.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Doomsman by Van Tassel Sutphen comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #27730, released 2009-01-07. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Adventure, Novels.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
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