The Nagasaki Vector

This is the fourth book in L. Neil Smith's "North American Confederacy" series of libertarian science fiction and alternate history that began with The Probability Broach. That book could only be described as libertarian porn--a book that's one enormous in-joke for those immersed in the movement, but would probably be a big huh??? or wtf?? (or both) to those on the outside. I think The Nagasaki Vector is less of an insider book, but also less fun than the outrageous--and outrageously imaginative--Probability Broach. Captain Bernie Gruenblum, skipper of a timeship, is a fairly likeable smart aleck, and I did enjoy his alien sidekicks. The book reads as very Heinleinesque at times, and I did enjoy that aspect.

But brother, at times... show more Look, I consider myself a libertarian, but not only do I find this book preachy at times, you have to understand Smith is the kind of guy capable of describing a character as a "MarxoFriedmanite Neo-Revisionist of the Old School." That's Milton Friedman, an economist most would describe as free-market, but to Smith's ilk, not pure enough and thus near kin to Karl Marx. So, an injoke few not libertarians would likely get, while at the same time a slap at those libertarians not of Smith's flavor. I also admit that I find Smith's adoration of guns outright creepy at times--hell, I think most lifetime NRA members would.

I rated this novel as high as I did because once I got somewhat into it, I did overall enjoy it, but I don't think it's a keeper. If you haven't already and you're inclined to try Smith, I'd recommend The Probability Broach, and only if you love that one to go on to read the other North American Confederacy novels. If you're not a libertarian and find that book decidedly not your cuppa, you might actually enjoy Smith's The Crystal Empire or Henry Martyn. The first is an imaginative alternate history dealing with a powerful Sino-Aztec empire and the other a swashbuckling space opera. Both books are less polemical than his wont. show less

SMith's name sake shows up only briefly here. A time traveling ship from the future eventually introduces us to a third demension within the Broachs multiverse. One where freedom is not valued even as it was on our own time line. but the ridciouslness of Ancapitstan gets wonkier. A wolf gains consieness thorugh implants in this brain and has double fisted guns created for him that only work his paws, but the process is learned to be immoral for some reason that makes no sense. And this dog loves Whiskey, and wants sex, but he can't have sex with a wolf that has no consience, and the one they did try to make like him has a desire to go live wild in the woods. WTF?!? Some great one liners and Win Bear is back at least, but the freenies show more worshipinng him and then not really explaining how they came to belive, seems like little more than a mockiery of Christinanity. The next one will have to be well written to keep going. show less

I didn't like this book. I found it a mild time travel story with a good deal of an unlikely Anarchism. Don't bother with it.

Lester Neil Smith III, better known as L. Neil Smith, is an American libertarian science fiction author and political activist. Wikipedia

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