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Title: An Enemy of the State by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 0-425-06833-1 Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: 01 February, 1984 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $2.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 3 (1 review)
Rating: 3
Summary: Tax relief, inflation, and sci-fi, oh my!
Comment: Unlike some other sci-fi future revolutions, the revolution in this book is bloodless and based solely on economics. Borrowing ideas from modern political science and economics, Wilson visits issues like the Gold Standard, libertarianism/anarchism, inflation, totalitarianism, market controls, and even gender attitudes in old civilizations vs. frontier developments (i.e., a frontier's success is dependent on getting new people, one of the easiest ways being women giving birth -- thus, women become baby factories and are devalued with regards to any other activity or idea.)
However, Wilson goes a little light on all the ideology; there are some strong personalities at play in this story of an empire's accelerated downfall. Just like in Asimov's Foundation Series, a small cabal is working to soften the impact of the inevitable crash of an overloaded empire; however, in Wilson's version, the impact is lessened by forcing a collapse in 5 years, as opposed to the expected 20. The leader of this movement, Peter LaNague, is from an odd frontier planet Tolive (for "to live"), founded by a group of people following the tenets of Kyfho (in the book, Kyfho is found to be very much in the vein of Heinlein's TANSTAAFL - There Ain't No Such Thing As a Free Lunch). But LaNague is up against the violent Droohin, leader of a rebel group whose plans were ruined by LaNague. A mysterious ultra-violent couple under LaNague's orders keeps Droohin in check, but one wonders if the tension can hold.
I found the book fascinating in its development. Wilson keeps you as well as the other conspirators in the dark as to the overarching plan - LaNague plays it close to the chest so that the movement is not betrayed. This becomes a focal point in the interaction between LaNague and his fellow subversives, his wife, and even the government which he brings down.
Wilson draws from the tradition (and has some sly nods to in the naming of some characters and spacecraft) of Frank Herbert's Dune, Robert Heinlein's Future History, Isaac Asimov's Foundation, and the detailed technical aspects of Larry Niven's work.
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Title: The Fifth Harmonic by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 1571743863 Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: Gateways by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 0765306905 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Wheels Within Wheels by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 042507451X Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: 01 January, 1985 List Price(USD): $2.75 |
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Title: Dydeetown World by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 0671698281 Publisher: Baen Books Pub. Date: 01 June, 1989 List Price(USD): $3.50 |
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Title: The Tery by F. Paul Wilson ISBN: 0671698559 Publisher: Baen Books Pub. Date: 01 December, 1989 List Price(USD): $3.50 |
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