Across books · Theme
Power and Corruption
The narrative explores how power—whether held by kings, the Church, or even a well-intentioned boss—can corrupt, and how institutions like the Church and aristocracy resist reform to maintain control.
Power and Corruption appears as a literary theme in 41 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.
The narrative explores how power—whether held by kings, the Church, or even a well-intentioned boss—can corrupt, and how institutions like the Church and aristocracy resist reform to maintain control.
The pursuit of wealth and influence corrupts individuals across racial lines, from Dr. Crookman's business empire to Matthew Fisher's rise in the Knights of Nordica, revealing how power is maintained through exploitation and moral compromise.
The pursuit and exercise of power corrupts both the Egyptian patriots and the Ptolemaic court, as seen in Cleopatra's manipulation, Harmachis's moral collapse, and the squandering of Egypt's sacred wealth.
The pursuit of power, whether through sorcery, political intrigue, or brute force, corrupts individuals and societies, leading to cruelty, betrayal, and moral decay.
Henry Morgan's rise from bond-servant to knight and governor illustrates how power corrupts, as he betrays his men, abandons his ideals, and uses authority for personal gain and security.
The revolutionary government's abuse of power is shown through spies, arbitrary arrests, and the manipulation of the justice system, with figures like Chauvelin and Héron embodying the moral decay of those who wield authority.
In each book
’Midst the Wild Carpathians
The novel explores how the sudden acquisition of power corrupts individuals, as seen in Apafi's transformation from a simple squire to a prince, and the destructive ambitions of figures like Teleki and Banfi.
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
The narrative explores how power—whether held by kings, the Church, or even a well-intentioned boss—can corrupt, and how institutions like the Church and aristocracy resist reform to maintain control.
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Black No More
The pursuit of wealth and influence corrupts individuals across racial lines, from Dr. Crookman's business empire to Matthew Fisher's rise in the Knights of Nordica, revealing how power is maintained through exploitation
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Cleopatra
The pursuit and exercise of power corrupts both the Egyptian patriots and the Ptolemaic court, as seen in Cleopatra's manipulation, Harmachis's moral collapse, and the squandering of Egypt's sacred wealth.
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Conan Stories
The pursuit of power, whether through sorcery, political intrigue, or brute force, corrupts individuals and societies, leading to cruelty, betrayal, and moral decay.
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Cup of Gold
Henry Morgan's rise from bond-servant to knight and governor illustrates how power corrupts, as he betrays his men, abandons his ideals, and uses authority for personal gain and security.
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El Dorado
The revolutionary government's abuse of power is shown through spies, arbitrary arrests, and the manipulation of the justice system, with figures like Chauvelin and Héron embodying the moral decay of those who wield auth
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Hadrian the Seventh
The narrative explores the tension between spiritual authority and worldly power, as Hadrian the Seventh navigates the politics of the Vatican, confronts media libels, and grapples with the moral compromises of leadershi
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Key Out of Time
The theme of power as a corrupting force is central, seen in the Baldies' manipulation of technology and minds, the Foanna's ancient magic, and the seductive ease of Hawaika's paradise that lulls settlers into forgetfuln
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Krakatit
The narrative examines how absolute power, embodied by Krakatit, tempts individuals and organizations—from anarchists to industrialists—to corrupt ends, and how Prokop resists becoming a tyrant.
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Lilith
The princess Lilith's absolute rule over Bulika, her use of terror and blood to maintain youth, and the citizens' complicit greed and pride demonstrate how power corrupts and isolates, while the prophecy of her downfall
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Plague of Pythons
The 'execs' who control the possessed wield absolute power, which corrupts absolutely, as they indulge in sadistic games, worship, and destruction, suggesting that power itself is a destructive force regardless of who ho
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Prince Otto
Political power is depicted as corrupting, with characters like Gondremark manipulating the state and the Princess for personal gain, while Otto's own weakness and the machinations of courtiers highlight the moral decay
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Privy Seal
The book explores how political power, embodied by Thomas Cromwell (Privy Seal), corrupts individuals and institutions through manipulation, espionage, and ruthless suppression of dissent, as seen in his network of spies
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Salammbô
The Carthaginian elite, including the Ancients and Hamilcar, manipulate the mercenaries through broken promises and political maneuvering, while the mercenary leaders like Matho and Spendius seize power through violence
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She
Ayesha's absolute power over the Amahagger people and her supernatural abilities corrupt her morally, leading her to justify murder and tyranny, illustrating the theme that unchecked power breeds evil and moral decay.
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Short Fiction
The theme of absolute power corrupting is central, from Governor Andrias's betrayal of the League to the twenty-three words that can make a man a god, and the misuse of advanced technology for control.
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Short Fiction
The narrative explores how power—whether political, technological, or religious—corrupts individuals and societies, leading to exploitation, betrayal, and the loss of freedom.
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Short Fiction
Political and religious power are depicted as corrupting and unstable, exemplified by Herodias and Antipas's scheming, the imprisonment of John the Baptist, and the ruthless ambition of rulers like Nero, all ultimately s
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Short Fiction
The narratives examine how political power corrupts, from the paranoid Colonel Hampton facing a conspiracy to commit him, to the oligarchic government of New Texas where armed ranchers control politics and assassinations
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Short Fiction
The pursuit of power—whether through ancient technology, alien alliances, or psychological manipulation—corrupts individuals and societies, as seen in the Aesir's tyranny and the Swamja's slave trade.
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Short Fiction
The book depicts how political, economic, and military elites (Uppers, Party officials, corporate heads) perpetuate their power through manipulation, bribery, and violence, often at the expense of the lower classes and s
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Short Fiction
The narrative explores how power corrupts individuals and institutions, from Kennedy's mind-control machine used for personal gain to the political machinations of Meade and the decadent Empire.
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Star Hunter
The criminal empire of Wass and the ruthless schemes of the Out-Hunter Hume illustrate how wealth and influence corrupt individuals, enabling exploitation and illegal conditioning for personal gain.
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Tarzan the Terrible
The political and religious struggles in Pal-ul-don, particularly involving the high priest Lu-don and the pretender Mo-sar, illustrate how the pursuit of power leads to manipulation, betrayal, and the perversion of just
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The Crystal Stopper
The political scandal of the 'Twenty-Seven' list reveals how power, bribery, and blackmail corrupt public officials, with Daubrecq using the list to control and destroy his enemies.
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The Fifth Queen Crowned
The book explores how political power corrupts individuals and institutions, as seen through the machinations of the court, the manipulation of the King, and the betrayal of allies for personal gain.
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The Invisible Man
Invisibility grants Griffin immense power, which quickly corrupts him, turning him from a victim of circumstance into a tyrannical figure who seeks to dominate through terror and violence.
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The Jewels of Aptor
The jewels of Aptor grant immense power, but their use is tied to manipulation, betrayal, and violence, as seen in Jordde's spying and the blind priestesses' worship of death.
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The Master Mind of Mars
The narrative examines how absolute power, as held by the Jeddara Xaxa and the surgeon Ras Thavas, leads to cruelty, exploitation, and moral decay, with characters using their authority to manipulate life and death for s
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The Mule-Bone
Mayor Joe Clark abuses his authority as storekeeper, postmaster, and judge, using the trial to settle personal scores and maintain control, while characters like Elder Simms challenge his dominance.
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The Outlaw of Torn
The book critiques the abuse of power by King Henry III and the barons, who use their positions for oppression and violence, while the outlaw's actions expose the moral decay within the ruling elite.
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The Prince and the Pauper
The book examines how absolute power can corrupt, as seen in the harsh punishments and arbitrary decisions of the nobility, while also showing that true nobility lies in character rather than birth.
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The Skylark of Space
The pursuit of power, whether through the X-energy, wealth, or political domination, corrupts characters like DuQuesne and Nalboon, leading to conflict and moral compromise.
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The Slaves of the Padishah
The book explores how political and military power corrupts individuals and institutions, from the machinations of the Ottoman court to the tyrannical rule of local princes, showing how power is wielded, abused, and ulti
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The Three Hostages
The narrative explores how wealth, political influence, and hypnotic abilities are used by Medina and his syndicate to manipulate and control others, demonstrating how power corrupts and enables vast criminal conspiracie
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the_trial
Court officials, lawyers, and even minor functionaries wield arbitrary power, often exploiting the accused for personal gain through bribes, sexual favors, and petty cruelties, exposing the moral decay at every level.
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twenty_years_after
The novel explores the corrupting influence of political power through figures like Cardinal Mazarin, whose avarice and manipulation provoke rebellion, and contrasts it with the idealized nobility of characters like Atho
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Uller Uprising
The Company's absolute power leads to corruption, including the use of puppet kings, forced labor, mass arrests, and the manipulation of native politics, while native rulers like King Orgzild plot to acquire nuclear weap
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Voodoo Planet
The struggle between legitimate authority and those who misuse power for personal gain, embodied in the conflict between Chief Ranger Asaki and the witch doctor Lumbrilo, who uses his magical abilities to manipulate and
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When the World Shook
The ancient civilization of the Sons of Wisdom, led by Oro, demonstrates how absolute power and the hoarding of knowledge and life-extending secrets lead to jealousy, war, and eventual downfall, serving as a parable abou
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