Ecolitan Prime by L.E. Modesitt Jr
01/07/2004 . Source: Paul Hanley 
pub: TOR. 492 page enlarged paperback. Price: $17.95 (US). ISBN: 0-765-30898-3. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.tor.com
This
is a publication in paperback form together of two earlier books,
one dating from 1986, which were 'The Ecolitan Envoy' and 'The Ecolitan
Enigma'. These are two stories out of four in a series set in a
particular future galaxy. I have not encountered these stories before
which is my loss because if one has a liking for space opera this
is a book for you.
The chief protagonist in both stories is one Nathaniel
Whaler who is both a senior economist and a special forces' killer.
He represents the star system of Accord, four hundred years after
its successful revolt and breakaway from the Terran Empire. He is
sent to negotiate with the Terrans to achieve a trade agreement
and avoid another catastrophic war.
The succession itself is still remembered for the
use of biological and nuclear weapons and the vast destruction it
wrought. Professor Whaler works mostly on his own but on this occasion
has help from a Terran women in the security services which enable
him to triumph and save everyone from a major war.
I have to say that whilst this did not detract from
my enjoyment of the book as a whole, I found the said Professor
to be smug and his philosophy nauseating. You can judge that part
for yourself, but I did find myself at time rooting for the 'baddies'
and hoped they would finish him off.
The author is able to create whole civilisations
which are fully believable whilst, during the course of the book,
slowly reveals more of the Professor's purpose and that of the frankly
sinister organisation, the Ecolitans, which has his true allegiance.
The second book contained in this paperback follows
on from the first, although in reality written several years later.
The Professor and his Terran turncoat, Sylvia, are sent by the Ecolitan
organisation to which they both now belong to a colonial world.
They are there at the request of the home government ostensibly
to make an economic survey of this colonial planet.
Again, the action is fast and furious set against
a world which is brought to life physically, politically, socially
and economically. That rather makes it seem as if L.E. Modesitt
Jr. has written a textbook, but he does this with a light touch
and paints the picture without one being overly aware of all the
information he is imparting.
There are, as with the first story, a wide variety
of characters and we are kept guessing until the end what is going
to happen. Again, the Professor's rather unpleasant philosophy made
me somewhat against him.
However, the two parts of this book were both good
adventure stories set against well-written scenarios and kept ones
interest throughout. Overall, this is a great read. I thoroughly
recommend it.
Paul Hanley 
|
