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Hal Mayne, a sixteen year old escaping the grasp of the Others, the self-proclaimed rulers of most of the fourteen worlds, due to his tutors untimely death at the hands of the one Other, Bleys Arhens bent on capturing Hal, the one man who could defeat Bleys.
Hal journeys from Earth to the Final Encylopedia, where he discovers he is next in line to take control of it. But seeing no way to hide, his journey takes him to Coby, a mining world. Bleys chases him from world to world as he visits the future forces which are to gather against the Others on the stronghold of Earth.
Visiting the earthlike planets of the Splinter Cultures: The Friendly Worlds (Charismatic believers), the Dorsai (the Warriors), and the Exotics (the Thinkers), Hal Mayne was able to determine the extent of the forces of which he had to contend. But the key element was delving into the resources of the Final Encyclopedia, where he would have to discover the Others' secrets before they could control the Splinter Cultures and the hub of humanity, Earth.
Gordon R. Dickson is a splendid teller of stories, and this is one of his best tales. The Final Encylcopedia in part of the Childe Cycle of books (series) and paints a picture of humanity spread out among colonies who became worlds and cultures, Splinter Cultures. Each culture is visited and protrayed colorfly with great detail.
Hal Mayne becomes a hero who not only battles to stay alive and fight the Others' control, but becomes a turner of heads and leader of minds. He thinks like no other and was taught like no other (by a Dorsai, a Friendly, and an Exotic).