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

Conservation is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Fontenay, Charles L. (1917–2007).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Conservation" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores themes of technological regression and human survival in a post-apocalyptic Earth, where vast advancements in power and technology are present but largely unutilized. The story is set after a period of catastrophic warfare, presenting a society that has adopted stringent conservation measures to guard against potential threats while neglecting to fully harness their technological capabilities. The plot follows a crew led by Executive Officer John Gray as they return to Earth after a 258-year absence due to their mission to colonize a planet elsewhere in the galaxy. Upon landing, they encounter a military society that lives amidst advanced machinery yet chooses to use a rudimentary lifestyle reminiscent of earlier centuries. The crew grapples with local customs, governance, and a poorly understood legal system focused on conservation. As they uncover the motivations behind the society's apparent technological hostility, they learn that the Earth has been occupied and had a long struggle against alien invaders. Ultimately, their knowledge and skills from the Deneb III colony may offer a path to rebuilding Earth’s lost technological prowess and help restore a more sustainable future.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Conservation
- Author credits: Fontenay, Charles L. (1917–2007)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Regression (Civilization) -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- Technology -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Read this edition
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.


