# Conquest Over Time - Michael Shaara Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara.md Podcast: [Sermons on Several Occasions](https://stenobird.com/podcast/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096) Published: 2026-07-27T09:00:32+00:00 Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara--73188899 Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73188899/conquest_over_time_michael_shaara.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096/episodes/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara Duration seconds: 4827 ## Resource Pat Travis, a spacer known for his remarkable luck, faces an unprecedented challenge when he lands on a planet that relies on astrology for every significant decision. Tasked with securing commercial contracts with newly-Contacted human races, he finds himself in a perilous situation, arriving on one of the worst-aspected days in history. Michael Shaara's "Conquest Over Time," originally published in 1956, explores themes of fate versus free will, highlighting the absurdity of relying on superstition in critical moments. This enduring tale resonates today as it prompts listeners to reflect on the influence of belief systems in our own decision-making processes and the unpredictable nature of fortune. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096/episodes/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/sermons-on-several-occasions-6703096/conquest-over-time-michael-shaara.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.