Subject
Gold -- Fiction Books
Best books
Henry Richardson Chamberlain
6,000 Tons of Gold
"6,000 Tons of Gold" by Henry Richardson Chamberlain is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around two men, Robert Brent and Duncan Fraser, who form an unlikely friendship aboard the steamship "Elbe" as they travel to Buenos Aires. Motivated by financial difficulties and the prospect of riches, they soon embark on a quest to uncover a hidden treasure of gold in Patagonia, which leads them into a series of extraordinary adventures laden with moral complexities. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the ship's passengers, including the American, Brent, who has faced recent financial hardships. His companionship with the older Scottish man, Fraser, quickly deepens as they share their life stories, setting the stage for their collaboration. After a violent storm causes injuries to both men, Fraser reveals to Brent an incredible secret about a vast hidden gold treasure guarded by a group of native Patagonians. Fraser invites Brent to join him on this extraordinary venture, igniting their mutual ambition and curiosity, which will ultimately test their ideals and the very fabric of their friendship as they pursue untold wealth.
Alfred Coppel
Captain Midas
"Captain Midas" by Alfred Coppel Jr. is a science fiction novella, first published in "Planet Stories" during the late 1940s. This gripping story delves into themes of greed, the quest for treasure, and the costs associated with such pursuits, presenting a morally complex narrative centered around human desires in the vast emptiness of space. The plot follows Captain Midas, the aging captain of the spaceship Martian Maid, who and his rough and ambition-driven crew stumble upon a mysterious derelict ship in space. Enticed by the prospect of treasure, they board the derelict only to discover that it is constructed from an alien metal that can transmute into gold at the cost of their youth and vitality. As the crew increasingly succumbs to the allure of the gold, Midas realizes the sinister truth behind the metal's origins—its power draws energy from life itself, aging its crew into skeletal forms. In a desperate attempt to escape this fate, Midas decides to abandon the treasure, but not before suffering the irreversible consequences. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the true price of seeking wealth, leaving him physically and spiritually scarred as he reflects on his lost crew and cursed treasure.
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