The Stars, My Brothers

Illustrated by Virgil Finlay

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"The Stars, My Brothers" by Edmond Hamilton is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around Reed Kieran, a scientist who is involved in a tragic accident in a space laboratory, leading to his death and subsequent freezing in space. The novel explores themes of humanity, survival, and the complex relations between species as Kieran is revived over a century later to face a transformed universe and societal dynamics. In the narrative, Kieran awakens aboard a starship after being frozen and learns that he has been chosen as a symbol in a struggle between humans and the Sakae, an alien race. Upon his revival, he confronts the discrepancies between his past and the new reality, leading to his involvement in a political conflict regarding the rights of the "savage" humans on the planet Sako who are ruled by the more advanced Sakae. As Kieran grapples with his identity and the ethics of non-human dominance, he grows from being merely a product of human instinct to a being driven by reason, ultimately advocating for a broader view of humanity that transcends traditional loyalties.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.