02377cam a22003373u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000330011324500240014626400510017030000470022133600260026833700260029433800360032049000600035650000310041650801140044752012650056153400450182665300300187165300220190170000130192383000600193685600430199624529UtSlPG20260610133549.0mcr n260607r2008||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPS1 aGarrett, Randall,d1927-198714aThe Unnecessary Man 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2008 a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats atextbtxt2rdacontent acomputerbc2rdamedia aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier1 aProduced from Astounding Science Fiction November 1959. aRelease date is 2008-02-06 aProduced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net a"The Unnecessary Man" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. The story navigates through themes of political intrigue, loyalty, and the machinations of power within the Terran Empire, exploring how individuals become pawns in greater schemes. The narrative centers around the character of Colonel Lord Barrick Sorban, who serves a hidden role in the Imperial hierarchy, highlighting how emotional and strategic undercurrents shape the behaviors and decisions of those in power. The plot unfolds largely through the lenses of Lord Sorban and Jon Senesin, the son of the Prime Portfolio, amid a scandal involving the potential manipulation of government leaders. As Jon questions the integrity of his father, who seems to be under influence, he seeks the truth behind political machinations and the tapes that may expose deeper corruption. The narrative intricately blends personal loyalty with broader political responsibilities, leading to revelations about the nature of power and sacrifice within a structured society. Ultimately, it raises questions about authority and the roles individuals play, including who truly may be "unnecessary" in the face of larger systemic needs. (This is an automatically generated summary.) nOriginal publication data not identified aScience fiction, American aPolitical fiction1 aMartinez 0aProduced from Astounding Science Fiction November 1959.40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24529