Similar story to "Pfand x" by Lazlo. Where there is secret society. But preferably no sci-fi or fantasy element.
Similar story to "Pfand x" by Lazlo. Where there is secret society. But preferably no sci-fi or fantasy element.
Surely the ultimate secret society story is El Sol's sadly incomplete 'A Master's Ring'.
It probably violates your 'no sci-fi or fantasy' elements, despite not being coded as such.
AJ
Thaumaturge's The Sisterhood has a secret society, but like what awnlee suggested it violates the no sci-fi or fantasy elements. Nevertheless a very good story.
A lot depends on what the op means my a "secret society".
Does he mean a society whose inner workings are kept secret from the general public, but whose existance is not secret (think Free Masons)?
Or does he mean a society whose very existence is kept secret?
if he means the latter, there probably aren't any decent stories that meet the no fantasy and no science fiction elements requirements.
Why? Because the latter type of secret society runs into the problem that all conspiracies eventually run into. The ability to keep it secret is inversely proportional to the number of people involved.
Does he mean a society whose inner workings are kept secret from the general public, but whose existance is not secret (think Free Masons)?
YM "Illuminati"
HTH, HAMD
Why? Because the latter type of secret society runs into the problem that all conspiracies eventually run into. The ability to keep it secret is inversely proportional to the number of people involved.
Depends on how long you intend to keep the secret, and what environment. As an example, a story about the Abolitionists in pre-ACW south would likely involve several secret societies. Similarly a modern spy-vs-spy story could involve secret societies where no one outside "the business" knows the organizations exist.
Similarly a modern spy-vs-spy story could involve secret societies where no one outside "the business" knows the organizations exist.
Realistically, what they do might remain secret longer, but the "secret" of their existence wouldn't last more than a year and probably not even that long.
As an example, a story about the Abolitionists in pre-ACW south would likely involve several secret societies.
Not really a good example for what you are trying to suggest.
People may not have known who all was involved and the details of the specific stops, but the existence of the Underground Railroad was known at the time.
Again, if you know only that the organization exists, and maybe it's high-level goals, but nothing of its membership or methodology... that's the Illuminati. Or the KKK in the era mentioned.
the Illuminati is just a myth.
...is just what a member of the Illuminati would claim.
...is just what a member of the Illuminati would claim.
...and so says everyone at Davos.
AJ
Does he mean a society whose inner workings are kept secret from the general public, but whose existance is not secret (think Free Masons)?
The Westminster paedophile ring is an open secret, even though the government denies its existence. And nobody has been charged with membership while still alive.
AJ