000 02547cam a22003853u 4500
001 70647
003 UtSlPG
005 20260610134631.0
006 m
007 cr n
008 260607r20231951utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d
040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aPS
100 1 _aWest, Wallace,
_d1900-1980
245 1 4 _aThe belt
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2023
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
490 1 _aProduced from Science Fiction Quarterly November 1951
500 _aRelease date is 2023-04-27
508 _aGreg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
520 _a"The Belt" by Wallace West is a science fiction novel written in the early to mid-20th century. Set on a fictional Caribbean island known as New Patmos, the book explores themes of social experimentation and the consequences of dehumanization through labor. The narrative delves into a family's generational struggle with a curse tied to their exploitation of convict labor and the resulting loss of humanity. The story follows Jonathan Robertson, who returns to New Patmos after his father’s death to claim his inheritance. Upon arrival, he discovers a grim reality: the descendants of convicts have been reduced to robotic laborers in a factory that processes Lapis Lazuli. As Jonathan grapples with the oppressive legacy of his ancestors, he attempts to liberate the workers and awaken their humanity. Despite his efforts, he is met with resistance and learns that the generation of workers has become so conditioned to their servitude that they cannot comprehend freedom. The tragic tale unfolds as Jonathan's attempts to effect change lead to devastating consequences, including the death of a young worker named Jo, which ultimately prompts Jonathan's realization of the depth of the curse that has gripped the island. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _pOriginally published:
_cUnited States: Columbia Publications, Inc., 1951
653 _aScience fiction
653 _aShort stories
653 _aIslands -- Fiction
653 _aFactories -- Fiction
653 _aMines and mineral resources -- Fiction
653 _aHuman evolution -- Fiction
830 0 _aProduced from Science Fiction Quarterly November 1951
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70647
999 _c111373
_d111373