Pythias

Pythias is a science fiction novella by Frederik Pohl, published in February 1955 in Galaxy Science Fiction. The story follows Dick, who is imprisoned for murdering his friend Larry Connaught, a man with extraordinary abilities that could disrupt society. The narrative explores themes of power, betrayal, and moral dilemmas, as Dick grapples with the consequences of his actions to protect the world from chaos. Pohl, a prominent figure in science fiction, is known for his influential works and has received multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards throughout his career.