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A Slave is a Slave

H. Beam Piper

188 ratings
A Slave is a Slave | H. Beam Piper

A Slave is a Slave

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The Galactic Empire is slowly 'welcoming' into the family of civilized worlds those systems so far off in the backwater of the galaxy that they have been overlooked and ignored for the past 500 years or so. This is purely routine work because every planet offered the chance has eagerly accepted the invitation. Mainly because the enlightened Empire lets the planetary government continue to rule and do whatever it wants...with a few minor restrictions of course; and because the they are shown what happens to planets who decide not to accept the invitation.

Aditya is the system in question here. Forgotten for almost a millennium but surviving, thank you very much, with an economy based entirely on slavery. Everyone is a slave except for the few thousand Lords Master. What happens when the this type of society meets the Constitution of the Galactic Empire which forbids any type of slavery? What happens when the poor, oppressed slaves are given their freedom? Funny you should ask ....
ies of politics.


There was a stir among the guards; helmet-visors were being snapped down; feet scuffed. They stiffened to attention, the great doors at the other end of the grand salon slid open, and the guards presented arms as the Adityan delegation was ushered in.

There were fourteen of them. They all wore ankle-length gowns, and they all had shaven heads. The one in the lead carried a staff and wore a pale green gown; he was apparently a herald. Behind him came two in white gowns, their empty hands folded on their breasts; one was a huge bulk of obesity with a bulging brow, protuberant eyes and a pursey little mouth, and the other was thin and cadaverous, with a skull-like, almost fleshless face. The ones behind, in dark green and pale blue, carried portfolios and slung sound-recorder cases. There was a metallic twinkle at each throat; as they approached, he could see that they all wore large silver gorgets. They came to a halt twenty feet from the desk. The herald raised his staff.

"I present the Admirable and Trusty Tchall Hozhet, personal chief-slave of the Lord-Master Olvir Nikkolon, Chairman of the Presidium of the Lords-Master's Convocation, and Khreggor Chmidd, chief-slave in office to the Lord-Master Rovard Javasan,[Pg 73] Chief of Administration of Management of the Mastership," he said. Then he stopped, puzzled, looking from one to another of them. When his eyes fell on Vann Shatrak, he brightened.

"Are you," he asked, "the chief-slave of the chief Lord-Master of this ship?"

Shatrak's face turned pink; the pink darkened to red. He used a word; it was a completely unprintable word. So, except for a few scattered pronouns, conjunctions and prepositions, were the next fifty words he used. The herald stiffened. The two delegates behind him were aghast. The subordinat

Andrew 10/03/2020
A reasonably good story, but not well written. In this story, the author frequently muddied up the dialogs, where multiple people are speaking, but without indicating who is saying what. At first it appears that a character is being completely contradictory to what he previously said, then you reali
Mark 01/20/2016
This short book is packed with insight beyond its time. So much more than a Sci-Fi story. A slave society instantly taken over by a larger power that outlaws slavery. But slavery is not a political reality, it is a reality of the mind. What a man thinks is very important.

*********************
"Someth
Jim 03/02/2014

Excerpt: ... postponed until the word could be passed out to the upper servile levels. A meeting with the chief-slaves in office of the various Managements was scheduled for the next afternoon. Count Erskyll chatted with forced affability while the departing committeemen were being seen to the launc

A Critical 06/05/2013
Not one of Piper's best stories by far, but still entertaining. Does make a few interesting points about the semantics of 'slavery'.
Lindsay 04/12/2011
H Beam Piper always deals with interesting theories in his writing, definitely making you think.
Heather 11/28/2010
Would give 3.5 stars if I could. Skirts slavery apologism, doesn't quite go there, heads for "people are basically shit" instead, which I can't argue with.

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