Last Enemy

Last Enemy is a science fiction novella by H. Beam Piper, first published in August 1950 in Astounding Science Fiction. Set within his Paratime series, the story explores the societal implications of reincarnation and the political tensions arising from differing beliefs about it. The protagonist, Dallona of Hadron, is a psychic researcher whose groundbreaking work threatens the established order, leading her to navigate a dangerous political landscape filled with intrigue and assassination. The title references the biblical notion of death as the ultimate enemy, underscoring the novella's themes of mortality and power.