The Secret Sanctum

The Secret Sanctum: A History of the Helium War, Human Nature, and the Vision of a Dying World (generally shortened to The Secret Sanctum or simply The Sanctum) is a 22nd century historical and sociological treatise concerning the events of United States' history and involvement in the Helium War, relating the events of the conflict to a theme of irreversible societal decay that the war represented and anticipated. Compiled and published in three volumes in 2117, its contents faced much controversy at the time from both academic and public circles; in particular its message of societal decay was deemed alarmist and offensive at the time. In the following decades, however, The Secret Sanctum has enjoyed wide popularity even in foreign countries. It has been assigned reading in American schools at various levels, and it has been deemed a classic in American history-writing and literature.

Despite its widespread use and popularity, the work remains of unknown authorship. Speculations range from a United States veteran of the war to Aegis defectors, and theories of multiple authorship have also circulated.