# The Price of Truth explained — The Cosmic Computer

> Chapter companion for The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper.

## What happens

Conn Maxwell reveals to his father Rodney that Merlin is a myth, based on his conversation with General Foxx Travis. They discuss the impossibility of telling the truth to the people of Poictesme, who have made Merlin a religion. Conn proposes building a hypership as a front to salvage war materials and revive the economy, and they agree to lie to everyone, including family, for the cause.

## Themes in this chapter

### Myth vs. Reality

Conn and his father confront the painful truth that Merlin is a myth, yet must maintain the illusion to motivate the populace.

### Deception and Leadership

Conn and Rodney decide to lie to everyone, including family, to achieve a greater good—reviving the planet's economy.

### Economic Decline and Revival

The chapter highlights Poictesme's decay and the desperate need for a hypership to access new markets and resources.

## Character check-ins

### Conn Maxwell

Reveals the truth about Merlin to his father and proposes a scheme to build a hypership using hidden war supplies.

### Rodney Maxwell

Learns from Conn that Merlin is a myth; agrees to lie to everyone for the sake of reviving Poictesme.

### General Foxx Travis

Mentioned as the source who confirmed Merlin was a wartime morale rumor; now living on Luna.

### Flora

Conn's sister; not a True Believer in Merlin, influenced by Wade Lucas.

### Kurt Fawzi

Present at the earlier meeting; Conn's father plans to have him organize a meeting for the next day.

## Key lines

> There is no Merlin. Is that it? ... The whole thing's a myth. I'm quoting the one man in the Galaxy who ought to know. The man who commanded the Third Force here during the War.

Conn confirms to his father that Merlin never existed, citing General Foxx Travis as his source.

_This is the pivotal revelation that sets the plot in motion._

> You and I will be the only two people on Poictesme who can be trusted with the truth. We'll have to lie to everybody else, with every word we speak.

Rodney warns Conn that they must deceive everyone, including family, to carry out their plan.

_Highlights the moral cost of their scheme._

> Look at that. Pretend you never saw it before and are looking at it for the first time. And then tell me whether it'll be worth it or not.

Conn points to the decaying Mall to justify the deception as necessary for the planet's revival.

_Emphasizes the theme of economic decline._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cosmic_computer_se/chapters