The great illusion: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The great illusion: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The great illusion is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Banister, Manly (1914–1986).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Great Illusion" by Manly Banister is a science fiction narrative that explores themes of perception, culture, and the nature of reality. Written in the mid-20th century, the book follows the adventures of Cliff Rowley, a psychic investigator in the Galactic Ethnological Survey Corps, as he grapples with the enigmatic civilization on the closed world of Hume. This world initially appears primitive and idyllic, yet Rowley senses a deeper, unsettling layer that hints at an illusion being carefully maintained. In this story, Rowley arrives on Hume to conduct investigations but quickly realizes that the apparent simplicity of the villagers conceals a far more complex truth. As he interacts with the inhabitants, he discovers their seemingly happy existence is a facade—a performance designed to keep galactic explorers at bay. The narrative unfolds to reveal that the villagers, along with their vibrant culture, are not what they seem; they are mental projections generated by the trees of Hume, which are the true intelligent beings of the planet. This realization leads Rowley to confront profound questions about identity, culture, and the ethics of interference in alien civilizations, ultimately culminating in an understanding that sometimes the greatest truths are hidden behind illusions.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The great illusion
- Author credits: Banister, Manly (1914–1986)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Life on other planets -- Fiction
- Outer space -- Exploration -- Fiction
- Psychic ability -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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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.
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