Agent of the Terran Empire consists of three short stories, a novella, and an essay about Captain Flandry of the Imperial Naval Intelligence Corps. HeAgent of the Terran Empire consists of three short stories, a novella, and an essay about Captain Flandry of the Imperial Naval Intelligence Corps. He’s a suave rogue who works to stop the collapse of the Terran Empire, what he refers to as “The Long Night.” He’s a little like James Bond (Flandry came first though) who eventually travels with the alien Chives, a character that very much reminded me of Jeeves from the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P. G. Wodehouse.
Tiger by the Tail (5/5) (Planet Stories, 1951) Anderson packs a lot in Flandry’s first appearance as he works to cause chaos from within after being kidnapped by the Scothani, a barbarian like empire. It’s Yojimbo in space with a civil war, a space battle, a sword fight, and tragic love.
The Warriors From Nowhere (3/5) (Planet Stories, 1954) Flandry rescues a kidnapped princess. Not bad but I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the other stories in this collection.
Honorable Enemies (4/5) (Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories, 1951) While the Terran Empire is in a cold war with the Empire of Mersia, both empires attempt to win over a smaller empire that lies between them, the people of Betelgeuse. Galactic intrigue as Flandry works with another agent, Aline Chang-Lei, trying to figure how Mersia keeps learning the plans of the Terran Empire. The first appearance of Flandry’s arch nemesis, the bird-like alien Aycharaych.
Hunters of the Sky Cave (5/5) (Expanded from “A Handful of Stars,” Amazing Stories, 1959. Also published as part of an Ace Double as “We Claim These Stars!”) An unknown wolf-like race attacks a Terran colony. Anderson’s growth as a writer really shows here. Flandry is a more complicated character and themes only hinted at in “Tiger by the Tail” are explored more thoroughly. There’s also more science and more alien-like aliens, and Anderson blends it all together into a compelling tale.
The essay by Sandra Miesel gives a nice overview of the Flandry series. Looking forward to reading more....more
Michael Treehearne discovers that he is actually a member of the Vardda, the only race that can withstand the rigors of intergalactic flight.
Leigh BraMichael Treehearne discovers that he is actually a member of the Vardda, the only race that can withstand the rigors of intergalactic flight.
Leigh Brackett is one of my favorite authors but this was slow going. Even though the chapters are short and Brackett’s prose shines in some places, the story is dry, lackluster, and has some jarring plot contrivances. It has a few interesting ideas but I feel it’s missing the wonder and excitement that most of her other work has....more
This is a science fiction Wild West tale about legends, life on the frontier, and revolution. In some ways it reminded me a little of the television sThis is a science fiction Wild West tale about legends, life on the frontier, and revolution. In some ways it reminded me a little of the television series Firefly.
Cain, a former revolutionary now bounty hunter, visits frontier planets searching for the legendary outlaw Santiago.
“They say his father was a comet and his mother a cosmic wind, that he juggles planets as if they were feathers and wrestles with black holes just to work up an appetite.”
Along the way we meet a wide cast of colorful characters. Vicki McKenzie the tough reporter, Swagman the unscrupulous art collector, Father William the preaching bounty hunter, Schussler the cyborg, and many more.
Each chapter begins with a verse written by the wandering balladeer Black Orpheus, introducing one of the characters. Throughout the book we also learn about Black Orpheus and his travels throughout the Inner and Outer Frontier worlds.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of and there’s a lot of time spent on developing back stories. It could have used a little more action. On the other hand the characters were interesting, the dialogue was sharp and witty, and everything came together in the end.
What started out as a simple space western turned into a commentary on revolution and the reality of fighting something like the Empire, or in this case “The Democracy.”...more
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