Cover of Priestess of the Flame

Priestess of the Flame

  • Free to read
  • 45 min read
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Priestess of the Flame" by Sewell Peaslee Wright is a science fiction novel first published in the early 20th century, specifically in the early 1930s. The book tells the story of Liane, a captivating and powerful female character who is the Chief Priestess of the Flame. The narrative is set against the backdrop of space exploration and the challenges faced by a crew assigned to manage a critical resource on the planet Lakos. The plot revolves around Commander John Hanson and his crew aboard the spaceship "Ertak", who are on a mission to investigate unrest caused by Liane and her cult, the Worshipers of the Flame. Liane seizes the opportunity to stow away on the ship, which complicates Hanson's mission as she is both beautiful and manipulative. Throughout the story, tensions rise as Liane struggles for power, leading to her eventual confrontation with her own people. Ultimately, the narrative culminates in a dramatic finale that explores themes of power, loyalty, and the perilous influence of a charismatic leader. The story captures the essence of space adventure while addressing deeper issues of authority and the complexity of human emotions.

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  • Science fiction

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Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

This etext was produced from Astounding Stories June 1932.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the
U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

[Sidenote: Commander John Hanson recounts the extraordinary story of Liane, Priestess of the Flame.]

I have been rather amused by the protests which have come to me regarding the "disparaging" comments I have made, in previous tales of the Special Patrol Service, regarding women. The rather surprising thing about it is that the larger proportion of these have come from men. Young men, of course.

Now, as a matter of fact, a careful search has failed to reveal to me any very uncomplimentary remarks. I have suggested, I believe, that women have, in my experience, shown a sad lack of ability to understand mechanical contrivances. Perhaps I have pictured some few of them as frivolous and shallow. If I have been unfair, I wish now to make humble apology.

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About this edition

This free edition of Priestess of the Flame by Sewell Peaslee Wright comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #29293, released 2009-07-02. 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, Novels.

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