by
Colin Kapp
A dated, and not very rigorous tale of adventure and social change, this novel is fairly well written, and has occasional glints of humor.
Reviewed by David on December 26, 2000
Genre: Science Fiction (Intrigue, Social Issues, Slavery)
Synopsis: The planet Roget is rather backward, with primitive gunpowder cannon and horse-drawn carriages everywhere. Even more backward is the social structure, with its reliance on slavery, feudalism and semi-legal criminal guilds.
However, the government is not completely naive, and they have been doing a decent job of encouraging space trade, while keeping the "foreign influences" to a minimum. And that suits the Free Trade Council just fine. They are happy to leave the planet evolve on its own, as long as its development doesn't jeopardize Roget's valuable status as a space junction.
However, one of the most enigmatic rulers of the superstitious planet—the Wizard of Anharite—is fomenting a revolution. The Trade Council must stop him—without the heavy-handed intervention that would plunge Roget into chaos.
Full Review: A slim and fairly superficial novel, the style and lack skimpy character development make it quite dated. But while suffering from the lacks of its contemporaries, the book also possesses their advantages: a lot of action, cleverness if not scientific rigor, and a certain sense of happy satisfaction in solving puzzles and offering rational, if not obvious solutions.
A very light entertainment for a rainy afternoon, this book brings a pleasant bit of nostalgia, snappy dialogue, clever if not overly originals ideas, and an admirable lack of angst or preaching.
Overall: 4; Plot: 4; Characters: 3.5; Style: 4.5; World-building: 5; Originality: 4.5;
Copyright date 1972-1973, Universal-Award House (Award Books), 1973, Mass market paperback, 190 pages
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