Die, Shadow!

"Die, Shadow!" by Algis Budrys is a science fiction story from the early 1960s that follows David Greaves, a brave hero who has inadvertently become a god-like figure worshipped across the cosmos. After waking up on Venus from a long sleep in a special survival pod he built to escape death, Mr. Greaves discovers he is seen as a deity while facing new challenges because of his status. The story follows Greaves as he deals with what it means to be a god while also fighting Mayron, an evil foe representative of the dark side straddling humanity. As things get more intense between those who follow a kind background and those who stand with the shadows, Mr. Greaves is forced to engage in a crucial battle with Mayron, where the fate of mankind and everyone touched by darkness hangs. The story examines themes of identity, sacrifice, and the fight between good and evil, causing readers to think about what it actually means to be human when faced with power and worship.