Chapter 11 Look on My Works, Ye Mighty... Summary

Adrian Veidt walks through his Antarctic retreat. He walks through a giant tropical-zone dome surrounded by the freezing wastes of snow, and walks through a vast hall that features an enormous painting of Alexander the Great severing the Gordian knot. At precisely 11:25 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on November 1, 1985, he depresses a large ominous-looking red button set into a computer bank. His face is expressionless. He recalls his life history in a flashback sequence.

Veidt was born into a wealthy family in 1939 and was quickly realized to be a child prodigy. His incredible intelligence gained him early attention, which he disliked. In later years, he deliberately hid his abilities to avoid attention and suspicions. He was orphaned in 1956. During his early life, he idolized Alexander the Great and decided he, too, would...