Graveyard of Dreams

"Graveyard of Dreams" by H. Beam Piper is a science fiction tale that follows Conn Maxwell as he comes back to his planet, Poictesme, after being away for five years, and finds his home in a state of despair, full of faded dreams. The story inspects wanting something more from life, disappointment, and the journey to find meaning in a falling world. The storyline goes forward as Conn deals with returning home while faced with the town's downfall and its people still hoping to find a mythical super-computer called the "Brain". Conn discovers that the computer, supposedly left over from a big war, wasn't real. He understands that people need real goals, not just dreams. Getting involved with the community, and developing old relationships, he comes up with ideas for new work and chances, starting a new vision of fixing up and changing Poictesme while fulfilling the citizen's dreams. Piper tells a story that focuses on facing reality to make for a brighter future.