title: The Golden Transcendence: or, The Last of the Masquerade (The Golden Age, Book 3)
author:  John C. Wright 
description: A movie based on Wright's modernized space opera could easily appeal to fans of The Matrix: both contain a charming bulletproof last-best-hope-of-mankind protagonist, sociological philosophy debated by hyperintelligent computers and fanatically purposeful people, and exciting (but relatively unimportant) action scenes. Many of the flatter descriptions might translate well to the screen, and the long, meandering discussions would be more tolerable with the addition of body language and vocal inflection. Such a film would, however, lack the grand polysyllabism that sets the tone of this volume and its predecessors, The Golden Age (2002) and The Phoenix Exultant (2003)-language both deeply literary and deeply essential. Wright's fondness for a well-turned phrase is genuine-he never repeats himself-and he's clearly taken the time to study the science and mythology that underlie his tale of a visionary wanderer returning to the utopia that has rejected him. Unfortunately, the author is so excited by his ideas that he pours torrents of them onto the head of the unsuspecting reader, a shower that leaves one more bedraggled and bewildered than refreshed. Once Wright starts parceling out his fascinating concepts a bit more stingily and decides whether he's writing fast-paced space opera or sociopsychological treatises, his work will really shine. Until then, most readers will have to take notes just to keep track of everything that's going on. <br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  # The Seeker, by Harry Leon Wilson
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### by Harry Leon Wilson
  
  
  This page formatted 2005 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  BOOK ONE. The Age of Fable
  
  
    
  CHAPTER I. HOW THE CHRISTMAS SAINT WAS PROVED
  
  
    
  CHAPTER II. AN OLD MAN FACES TWO WAYS
  
  
    
  CHAPTER III. THE CULT OF THE CANDY CANE
  
  
    
  CHAPTER IV. THE BIG HOUSE OF PORTENTS
  
  
    
  CHAPTER V. THE LIFE OF CRIME IS APPRAISED AND
  
  
  CHOSEN
  
  
    
  CHAPTER VI. THE GARDEN OF TRUTH AND THE PERFECT
  
  
  FATHER
  
  
    
  CHAPTER VII. THE SUPERLATIVE COUSIN BILL J.
  
  
    
  CHAPTER VIII. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
  
  
    
  CHAPTER IX. ON SURVIVING THE IDOLS WE BUILD
  
  
    
  CHAPTER X. THE PASSING OF THE GRATCHER; AND
  
  
  ANOTHER
  
  
    
  CHAPTER XI. THE STRONG PERSON'S NARRATIVE
  
  
    
  CHAPTER XII. A NEW THEORY OF A CERTAIN WICKED MAN
  
  
  
  
  
  BOOK TWO. The Age of Reason
  
  
    
  CHAPTER I. THE REGRETTABLE DEMENTIA OF A
  
  
  CONVALESCENT
  
  
    
  CHAPTER II. FURTHER DISTRESSING FANTASIES OF A
  
  
  CLOUDED MIND
  
  
    
  CHAPTER III. 