Old SF book where aliens manipulate Earth to keep us at war?
I owned this book but it got lost in one of several moves. Dying to find title or author so I can buy it again. Book is likely from 60s or 70s. Paperback science fiction.
Set in 2000s but they still use typewriters. Journalist is embedded with diplomat on verge of world peace but at last minute diplomat torpedoes the whole thing then dies. Journalist (man) thinks diplomat was dead and his animated corpse sabotaged world peace.
After a nervous breakdown, journalist is recruited to join a group of psychics responsible for manipulating world events. Two teams work to keep the Earth at war. After joining and learning this dark purpose, journalist cracks again and tries to hide. Beautiful psychic (hiding her powers) finds him and helps him, then reveals herself as having been sent to bring him back to the team.
The final reveal is the reason Earth must remain at war. There is a galactic civilization orchestrating the whole thing. This civilization noticed that all the great leaders came from worlds that recently joined their federation. After a while, peace made each planet weak. They keep Earth in perpetual war to find the strongest and recruit them to lead the galaxy. Our journalist friend becomes such a leader.
story-identification books
edited 20 hours ago
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asked 22 hours ago
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I owned this book but it got lost in one of several moves. Dying to find title or author so I can buy it again. Book is likely from 60s or 70s. Paperback science fiction.
Set in 2000s but they still use typewriters. Journalist is embedded with diplomat on verge of world peace but at last minute diplomat torpedoes the whole thing then dies. Journalist (man) thinks diplomat was dead and his animated corpse sabotaged world peace.
After a nervous breakdown, journalist is recruited to join a group of psychics responsible for manipulating world events. Two teams work to keep the Earth at war. After joining and learning this dark purpose, journalist cracks again and tries to hide. Beautiful psychic (hiding her powers) finds him and helps him, then reveals herself as having been sent to bring him back to the team.
The final reveal is the reason Earth must remain at war. There is a galactic civilization orchestrating the whole thing. This civilization noticed that all the great leaders came from worlds that recently joined their federation. After a while, peace made each planet weak. They keep Earth in perpetual war to find the strongest and recruit them to lead the galaxy. Our journalist friend becomes such a leader.
story-identification books
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I owned this book but it got lost in one of several moves. Dying to find title or author so I can buy it again. Book is likely from 60s or 70s. Paperback science fiction.
Set in 2000s but they still use typewriters. Journalist is embedded with diplomat on verge of world peace but at last minute diplomat torpedoes the whole thing then dies. Journalist (man) thinks diplomat was dead and his animated corpse sabotaged world peace.
After a nervous breakdown, journalist is recruited to join a group of psychics responsible for manipulating world events. Two teams work to keep the Earth at war. After joining and learning this dark purpose, journalist cracks again and tries to hide. Beautiful psychic (hiding her powers) finds him and helps him, then reveals herself as having been sent to bring him back to the team.
The final reveal is the reason Earth must remain at war. There is a galactic civilization orchestrating the whole thing. This civilization noticed that all the great leaders came from worlds that recently joined their federation. After a while, peace made each planet weak. They keep Earth in perpetual war to find the strongest and recruit them to lead the galaxy. Our journalist friend becomes such a leader.
story-identification books
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I owned this book but it got lost in one of several moves. Dying to find title or author so I can buy it again. Book is likely from 60s or 70s. Paperback science fiction.
Set in 2000s but they still use typewriters. Journalist is embedded with diplomat on verge of world peace but at last minute diplomat torpedoes the whole thing then dies. Journalist (man) thinks diplomat was dead and his animated corpse sabotaged world peace.
After a nervous breakdown, journalist is recruited to join a group of psychics responsible for manipulating world events. Two teams work to keep the Earth at war. After joining and learning this dark purpose, journalist cracks again and tries to hide. Beautiful psychic (hiding her powers) finds him and helps him, then reveals herself as having been sent to bring him back to the team.
The final reveal is the reason Earth must remain at war. There is a galactic civilization orchestrating the whole thing. This civilization noticed that all the great leaders came from worlds that recently joined their federation. After a while, peace made each planet weak. They keep Earth in perpetual war to find the strongest and recruit them to lead the galaxy. Our journalist friend becomes such a leader.
story-identification books
story-identification books
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
edited 20 hours ago
Jenayah
17.3k489123
17.3k489123
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
asked 22 hours ago
Kevan AndersonKevan Anderson
765
765
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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1 Answer
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This is Ballroom of the Skies (1952) by John D. MacDonald.
From Wikipedia:
The story involves Earth sometime after World War III, with Brazil, Iran, and India as the prevailing superpowers.
The plot reveals the reasons behind humanity's history of perpetual war and strife, which is that leaders of an intergalactic empire are always chosen from among humans but must first be tested by extreme hardship.
The book was originally printed in 1952 by Greenberg, but reprinted in 1968 by Fawcett (per ISFDB). These are the respective covers:
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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This is Ballroom of the Skies (1952) by John D. MacDonald.
From Wikipedia:
The story involves Earth sometime after World War III, with Brazil, Iran, and India as the prevailing superpowers.
The plot reveals the reasons behind humanity's history of perpetual war and strife, which is that leaders of an intergalactic empire are always chosen from among humans but must first be tested by extreme hardship.
The book was originally printed in 1952 by Greenberg, but reprinted in 1968 by Fawcett (per ISFDB). These are the respective covers:
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
add a comment |
This is Ballroom of the Skies (1952) by John D. MacDonald.
From Wikipedia:
The story involves Earth sometime after World War III, with Brazil, Iran, and India as the prevailing superpowers.
The plot reveals the reasons behind humanity's history of perpetual war and strife, which is that leaders of an intergalactic empire are always chosen from among humans but must first be tested by extreme hardship.
The book was originally printed in 1952 by Greenberg, but reprinted in 1968 by Fawcett (per ISFDB). These are the respective covers:
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
add a comment |
This is Ballroom of the Skies (1952) by John D. MacDonald.
From Wikipedia:
The story involves Earth sometime after World War III, with Brazil, Iran, and India as the prevailing superpowers.
The plot reveals the reasons behind humanity's history of perpetual war and strife, which is that leaders of an intergalactic empire are always chosen from among humans but must first be tested by extreme hardship.
The book was originally printed in 1952 by Greenberg, but reprinted in 1968 by Fawcett (per ISFDB). These are the respective covers:
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
This is Ballroom of the Skies (1952) by John D. MacDonald.
From Wikipedia:
The story involves Earth sometime after World War III, with Brazil, Iran, and India as the prevailing superpowers.
The plot reveals the reasons behind humanity's history of perpetual war and strife, which is that leaders of an intergalactic empire are always chosen from among humans but must first be tested by extreme hardship.
The book was originally printed in 1952 by Greenberg, but reprinted in 1968 by Fawcett (per ISFDB). These are the respective covers:
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
edited 14 hours ago
DavidW
1,7521329
1,7521329
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
answered 22 hours ago
Danny3414Danny3414
3,66412158
3,66412158
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
add a comment |
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
According to that Wikipedia article, the paperback came out in 1968.
– Brian Minton
15 hours ago
2
2
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
ISFDB lists it as 1952. I know which one I trust.
– DavidW
15 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
@BrianMinton - Albris says "Fawcett Gold Medal Books" (alibris.com/…) Albris is handy if you're looking for an older book since they also provide the ISBN for newer releases no matter the current publisher.
– Ring
10 hours ago
add a comment |
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kevan Anderson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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