"The Nine Unknown" is a novel written by Talbot Mundy in 1923. The book is a work of fiction, but it popularized the concept of the "Nine Unknown Men," who was said to be a group of nine scientists or sages appointed by the ancient Indian emperor Ashoka to preserve and develop knowledge that would be too dangerous for the masses if it were to fall into the wrong hands. The novel tells the story of a British soldier who becomes embroiled in the machinations of the Nine Unknown and their quest to keep their knowledge secret from the world.
The novel was a best seller at the time of its publication and has since become a classic of science fiction and fantasy literature. It has been translated into several languages and has been re-released multiple times over the years.
The concept of the Nine Unknown Men has captured the imagination of many, and has been the subject of numerous books, movies and TV shows. However, the concept is purely fictional and there is no historical evidence that such a group existed during Ashoka's reign.
The Nine Unknown are said to have possessed knowledge in the following fields:
- Propaganda and psychological warfare
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- Alchemy
- Communication
- Gravitation
- Cosmogony
- Light
- Sociology
The idea behind the Nine Unknown Men is that they held knowledge that is too powerful and dangerous for the masses, so they kept it secret and only shared it with those they deemed worthy. The idea of a secret society holding dangerous knowledge is a common trope in science fiction and fantasy literature, and "The Nine Unknown" is an early example of this.
In the novel, the main character, British soldier Philip Vance, is on a mission in India when he stumbles upon the existence of the Nine Unknown Men. He becomes obsessed with finding out more about them and eventually infiltrates their secret society. Vance discovers that the Nine Unknown possess advanced knowledge in fields such as physiology, microbiology, and communication, and that they use this knowledge to control the masses and manipulate world events.
As he becomes more involved with the Nine Unknown, Vance realizes that they are not the villains he initially thought they were, but instead are working towards the greater good. He comes to understand that the knowledge they possess is too dangerous for the masses to handle, and that they are using it to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Throughout the novel, Vance is faced with difficult ethical dilemmas as he grapples with the idea of secret knowledge being used to control the masses. He ultimately decides to leave the Nine Unknown and return to his normal life, but the experience has changed him forever.
The novel explores themes of power, secrecy, and the morality of knowledge. It raises questions about the role of science and technology in society, and the consequences of keeping knowledge hidden from the public. It also touches on the idea of a secret society with immense power and influence, a concept that has been explored in many other works of fiction and has been the subject of much speculation in real-life conspiracy theories.
"The Nine Unknown" is an early example of science fiction literature, and it's a novel that has stood the test of time. It's a classic that continues to be read and enjoyed by many readers. It is also worth mentioning that despite being a work of fiction, the idea of a secret society holding dangerous knowledge has been a recurring trope in popular culture, which is often attributed to the work of Talbot Mundy.
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