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Paratime Police
Last Enemy
The last enemy was the toughest of all -- and conquering him was in itself almost as dangerous as not conquering. For a strange pattern of beliefs can make assassination an honorable profession!Also published as "The Last Enemy".
72 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
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108 people want to read
About the author
H. Beam Piper
296 books242 followersHenry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 16, 2011
How do you kill your enemies, when they keep reincarnating? How would the knowledge of optional, and purposeful, reincarnation change the socio-political landscape of a world? If you forcibly disincarnate someone (the word for to kill, or murder in this short story), what are the ramifications. All these are questions that are addressed in this short story, and we see the return of some of our favorite paratime police.
October 30, 2017
Surprisingly very hard to follow. Perhaps it was my lack of scientific knowledge and lingo, or maybe the complex plot line. I don't know which, but I could not fully grasp what was going on, even until the end. :(
September 25, 2019
Set in the Paratime Police series, this science fiction story delves into another dimension where reincarnation is not a religious ideology, but an objective reality. However, the nature of rebirth is uncertain and has lead to the creation of two distinct factions. That is, until the truth of the situation is discovered by a scientist and society breaks down.
Good story with parallels to then-current times, but not exactly outdated for our modern society or political climate. Unfortunately, there isn't enough time to fully expand upon the introduced ideas.
If the protagonist Verkan Vall serves as H. Beam Piper's Jubal Harshaw, acting as a mouthpiece instead of being an independent character, there are some problematic views on the atom bomb.
Good story with parallels to then-current times, but not exactly outdated for our modern society or political climate. Unfortunately, there isn't enough time to fully expand upon the introduced ideas.
If the protagonist Verkan Vall serves as H. Beam Piper's Jubal Harshaw, acting as a mouthpiece instead of being an independent character, there are some problematic views on the atom bomb.
April 6, 2019
2019 grade B
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January 26, 2021
great story
October 23, 2019
A sci-fi short story from the "golden age" by a noted practitioner of the time, The Last Enemy is an inter-dimensional tale of political intrigue, reincarnation and institutionalized assassination, told with a lively sense of humour.
When a time traveling scientist from a technologically advanced time-line decides to aid an inferior culture prove the existence of reincarnation. Success opens up a veritable Pandora's Box of social and political ramifications, leading to her disappearance and a civil war.
A policeman (and ex-lover) from her own Level One of 'Paratime' is sent on a rescue mission to square things off if he can. He operates a little like a Special Circumstances agent, the secret police of Iain Baink's celebrated Culture series of novels, only this lot work across multiple time-lines.
They can artificially alter their appearances and attributes in order to visit alternative levels incognito. However, in line with the Prime Directive from Star Trek they aren't supposed to conspicuously interfere with the indigenous species.
It's a fun read and many of the ideas here wouldn't appear old-fashioned in a contemporary story. The social, political and theological ramifications of the story, though not investigated in any depth, were well handled.
It was spoiled somewhat by an endless litany of silly-sounding names (Garnon of Roxor etc) which brought a unwelcome stiffness to the narrative. That quibble aside, the writer's tongue was never that far away from the region of his cheek.
Of course, as with all good science fiction there were also clear parallels to contemporary history in the story (e.g. 1950s Earth is called Fourth Level Europo-American Sector, where the enemies are communists and creationists!), but the overall moral - that scientists are ultimately above blame for the consequences of their work - was not one I can agree with.
Reading Piper's page on Wikipedia I learnt that he wrote a series of stories about these Paratime Police, as well as a whole load of other stories and a handful of novels, some of which can be found online at Project Gutenberg.
He also committed suicide the Heming-way, with a shotgun.
When a time traveling scientist from a technologically advanced time-line decides to aid an inferior culture prove the existence of reincarnation. Success opens up a veritable Pandora's Box of social and political ramifications, leading to her disappearance and a civil war.
A policeman (and ex-lover) from her own Level One of 'Paratime' is sent on a rescue mission to square things off if he can. He operates a little like a Special Circumstances agent, the secret police of Iain Baink's celebrated Culture series of novels, only this lot work across multiple time-lines.
They can artificially alter their appearances and attributes in order to visit alternative levels incognito. However, in line with the Prime Directive from Star Trek they aren't supposed to conspicuously interfere with the indigenous species.
It's a fun read and many of the ideas here wouldn't appear old-fashioned in a contemporary story. The social, political and theological ramifications of the story, though not investigated in any depth, were well handled.
It was spoiled somewhat by an endless litany of silly-sounding names (Garnon of Roxor etc) which brought a unwelcome stiffness to the narrative. That quibble aside, the writer's tongue was never that far away from the region of his cheek.
Of course, as with all good science fiction there were also clear parallels to contemporary history in the story (e.g. 1950s Earth is called Fourth Level Europo-American Sector, where the enemies are communists and creationists!), but the overall moral - that scientists are ultimately above blame for the consequences of their work - was not one I can agree with.
Reading Piper's page on Wikipedia I learnt that he wrote a series of stories about these Paratime Police, as well as a whole load of other stories and a handful of novels, some of which can be found online at Project Gutenberg.
He also committed suicide the Heming-way, with a shotgun.
December 11, 2010
This is one the books in H. Beam Piper’s Paratime Police universe. As usual Piper is brilliant. Surprisingly, for a book written in the fifties, this book features a female scientist who, though she does need to be rescued, actually has a personality and does a good deal of the rescuing herself. There are also black people who are not predominantly bad-guys, also surprising for a book from the fifties.
One of the themes of this book is reincarnation. The Paratime Police, apparently, have proven scientifically that people can reincarnate and do so at will. This means that killing somebody is called discarnating them. They’ll be back in a few decades or centuries.
The conceit made for an interesting set of political and cultural differences that were believably strange. However the whole thing made me feel a little sick inside. H. Beam Piper killed himself at the height of his career, as so many great artists do. I can’t help but wonder if the themes he explores in this book are justification to himself for his actions. We’ll probably never know but it made the people who discarnated for awhile when they got tired of living more than a little creepy and extremely disconcerting.
One of the themes of this book is reincarnation. The Paratime Police, apparently, have proven scientifically that people can reincarnate and do so at will. This means that killing somebody is called discarnating them. They’ll be back in a few decades or centuries.
The conceit made for an interesting set of political and cultural differences that were believably strange. However the whole thing made me feel a little sick inside. H. Beam Piper killed himself at the height of his career, as so many great artists do. I can’t help but wonder if the themes he explores in this book are justification to himself for his actions. We’ll probably never know but it made the people who discarnated for awhile when they got tired of living more than a little creepy and extremely disconcerting.
April 18, 2021
This novella features the hero of H. Beam Piper's paratime stories,(Paratime Police: Complete Sci-Fi Series: Police Operation, He Walked Around the Horses, Last Enemy, Temple Trouble, Genesis, Time Crime, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen & Down Styphon ) Verkun Vall. He is an action hero in the style of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter, with a dash of a film noir detective thrown in. This is the third in the paratime series. I liked the first and second much more: He Walked Around the Horses and Police Operation. This one got lost a bit in theoretical reincarnation, but the golden age science fiction motifs are still there. I will continue the series. I hope numbers four and beyond go back to being more like number two.
May 20, 2021
Wonderful listening 🔰
Due to eye damage Alexa reads to me.
Excellent will written romantic fantasy Sci-Fi thriller adventure novella some time in the future with interesting characters. The story line is complicated, fast moving, violent, and full of deception as our hero races to prevent global war. This maybe one of H. Beam Piper best fantasy novels. Enjoy the adventure 2021 😀
Due to eye damage Alexa reads to me.
Excellent will written romantic fantasy Sci-Fi thriller adventure novella some time in the future with interesting characters. The story line is complicated, fast moving, violent, and full of deception as our hero races to prevent global war. This maybe one of H. Beam Piper best fantasy novels. Enjoy the adventure 2021 😀
August 23, 2018
Read on LibriVox (free audio books in the public domain).
December 27, 2025
actually pretty fun little jaunt
June 22, 2020
These Paratime stories are usually hard to follow, especially initially, but overall they are really enjoyable. As always, this story tackles a concept (proof of reincarnation) and follows it to an interesting conclusion, especially the impacts that scientific proof has on a society.
May 16, 2014
Don't get we wrong I love Piper's stories, and this is no exception concened here with two ideologies in conflict over the nature of reincarnation, what I do have a problem was with his dubious(to say the least)political views.
the arrogant, cocksure, ambitious, LEFTIST politician, who knows what is best for everybody better than anybody else does yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion you might add.
Towards the end of the book Piper's answer to over population,
A series of all out Atomic Wars is just what this sector needs (our own world}, to bring down their population down to their world's carrying capacity Ahem. A tad extreme.
the arrogant, cocksure, ambitious, LEFTIST politician, who knows what is best for everybody better than anybody else does yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion you might add.
Towards the end of the book Piper's answer to over population,
A series of all out Atomic Wars is just what this sector needs (our own world}, to bring down their population down to their world's carrying capacity Ahem. A tad extreme.
February 13, 2011
Part of the long running Paratime Police series, enjoying this short story centres around accepting the premise that reincarnation is scientifically provable.
Get over that hurdle, and the rest is fun with (almost) two party politics, an armed and dueling populace and some YA-ish gunplay.
Personally I hate the bit with the table close to the end, but other than that it's a fun read.
Get over that hurdle, and the rest is fun with (almost) two party politics, an armed and dueling populace and some YA-ish gunplay.
Personally I hate the bit with the table close to the end, but other than that it's a fun read.
March 2, 2014
Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Science Fiction / General; Fiction / Science Fiction / General; Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure;
January 14, 2025
Verkan Vall is sent to rescue Hadron Dalla from the Second-Level Akor-Neb Sector of paratime, where she’s unintentionally caused a social upheaval by proving that reincarnation is real and no-one dies permanently. The social upheaval turns violent, and a number of people die temporarily in the course of the story.
March 18, 2011
I just never really got into this one. It was a kind of confusing storyline and I didn't really connect with the characters.
November 5, 2023
This is a pretty good science fiction story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews