The Final Encyclopedia

Prometheus Award: Best Novel nominee (1985).

The Childe Cycle, Gordon R. Dickson's future history about the ultimate destiny of humankind, moves toward its exciting conclusion with this latest volume.

In The Final Encyclopedia the human race has split into three Splinter cultures: the Friendlies, fanatic in their faith; the truth-seeking Exotics; and the warrior Dorsai. But now humanity is threatened by the power-hungry Others, whose triumph would end all human progress.

Hal Mayne is an orphan who was raised by three tutors: an Exotic, a Friendly, and a Dorsai. He is the only human capable of uniting humanity against the Others. But only if he is willing to accept his terrifying destiny... as savior of mankind.