02538cam a22003973u 4500 64515 UtSlPG 20260610134504.0 m cr n 260607r2021||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Fennel, Erik Synthetic Hero Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2021 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Planet Stories Fall 1948 Release date is 2021-02-10 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Synthetic Hero" by Erik Fennel is a science fiction novella written in the late 1940s. The narrative centers around George Carlin, a wealthy and egocentric industrialist who, facing a terminal illness known as Matson's Disease, devises a grandiose plan to become a hero by traveling to the moon. This story explores themes of ego, identity, and the nature of heroism against a backdrop of human ambition and technological advancement. The plot follows Carlin’s descent as he orchestrates a one-way trip to the moon, resulting in an accidental transformation into a public figure celebrated for discovering a potential cure for his disease. However, the true pioneer behind the mission, engineer Verne Harris, is unceremoniously ignored in the narrative, leading to tragic consequences. As Carlin drinks away his troubles, he eventually learns of Harris's sacrifice and the myth that replaces their shared reality, illustrating how society often elevates flawed individuals while the genuine heroes remain unrecognized or forgotten. Ultimately, Carlin’s journey is one of loss, redemption, and the harsh reality of how public perception can shape history, leaving him with the haunting truth of another man's overlooked legacy. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Impostors and imposture -- Fiction Rich people -- Fiction Space flight to the moon -- Fiction Diseases -- Fiction Vestal, Herman B., 1916-2007 Produced from Planet Stories Fall 1948 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64515 105338 105338