A City Near Centaurus: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
A City Near Centaurus: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

A City Near Centaurus is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Doede, William R. (1918–2007).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"A City Near Centaurus" by William R. Doede is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story unfolds on a distant planet, Alpha Centaurus II, where the protagonist, an Earth archeologist named Michaelson, discovers an ancient city that holds secrets and artifacts from a long-lost civilization. The narrative explores themes of preservation, divinity, and the interplay between the past and human curiosity. The plot centers on Michaelson's insatiable quest for knowledge as he encounters a native named Maota, who acts as the guardian of the ancient city. Their interactions unveil a deep conflict between Michaelson's desire to study and preserve the city's history and Maota's belief in the sacredness of their ancestors' home, where spirits may still linger. As tensions arise, the story takes a turn when they both inadvertently become embroiled in a struggle for understanding, identity, and existence, leading to profound revelations about life, death, and the possibility of transcendence beyond physical forms. Ultimately, Michaelson's journey takes an unexpected twist, challenging his perception of self and the nature of reality.
Book and edition facts
- Title: A City Near Centaurus
- Author credits: Doede, William R. (1918–2007)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Archaeologists -- Fiction
- Extinct cities -- Fiction
- Extraterrestrial beings -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Science Fiction
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


