L.P.M. : The End of the Great War

"L.P.M.: The End of the Great War" by J. Stewart Barney is a novel written during the early 20th century, amidst the backdrop of World War I. The story centers on John Fulton Edestone, a wealthy and ambitious young American inventor, who seeks to intervene in the ongoing conflict and negotiate peace on a grand scale, utilizing a mysterious technological device of his own creation that promises to bring an end to the war. At the start of the book, we meet Edestone as he seeks the backing of high-ranking officials in the U.S. government, including the Secretary of State. His confidence and unyielding spirit are evident as he presents his revolutionary ideas and requests credentials to meet with European leaders. The narrative reveals Edestone's determination to end the war and showcases his complex personality—he is brilliant yet also somewhat reckless, propelled by his vision of creating universal peace. The opening chapters establish a tense atmosphere filled with political intrigue, foreshadowing conflicts that will arise from Edestone's ambitious mission as he navigates both admiration and skepticism from the political figures around him.