Have you ever wondered if your political activism opposes the state or just reinforces its power? Have you ever marveled at the absurdity of having to pull a permit in order to protest your government's latest atrocity? Does the Orwellian idea of the police setting up "Free Speech Zones" at political conventions make you want to vomit? Have you ever pondered whether assassinating a political leader would change things for the better or would the inevitable reactionary backlash make the world worse? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then perhaps this is the science fiction novel for you. Spinrad sets up three factions. The Hegemony (apologies to Gramsci who must be turning in his grave by the lack of subtlety) that controls the Universe, the rebels who have vague notions of democracy and freedom and The Brotherhood of Assassins who argue that the rebels only think they're opposing The Hegemony, but in reality reinforce it with every action. I think Spinrad is at his best when he's acting as a political/cultural critic from Bug Jack Barron to Little Heroes to Other Americas. Since those are three of my other favorite books ever, it's hard to elevate Agent of Chaos above them, but I think it's probably the most timeless. ( )

No, this is not a Get Smart adventure. Norman Spinrad's book is about one man's choice with regards to political systems. Three competing forces are at work, basically, fascism, democracy, and a wild card element, an order of assassins. Who, I suppose you could call terrorists, or anything like that.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2006/12... ( )