The Ecolitan Enigma (Hardcover)

In this novel, shortly thereafter, the Ecolitan Institute is asked by the Coordinate government to accede to a request by New Avalon for an infrastructure economics study of Artos, one of their colony planets. The politicians strongly urge that Whaler should head the study. The request seems strange, but the Institute has reasons of its own to allow the study. Sylvia, now a Professor at the Ecolitan Institute, accompanies Whaler to Artos.

On Artos, they are met by Robert Walkerson, the Port Chief, and driven toward their temporary housing. However, a fuel leak results in a small explosion, killing the driver and destroying the car. Whaler, Sylvia and Walkerson catch a ride to the Guest House on the shuttle bus and Walkerson reports the incident while Whaler and Sylvia freshen up.

The next morning, Walkerson assigns another car and driver for their use and the Ecolitans start visiting facilities and local magnates. Whaler and Sylvia meet various local personages at a small reception held in the Blue Lion Inn. They also count utility poles, examine road beds and examine piers. However, they meet some animosity in the latter pursuit.

Meanwhile, the Empire is having food problems. The snyde bean crop is being devasted by some sort of disease and the anchovy harvest is also suffering. As these food staples are dying, people are beginning to starve; although the Imperial fleets try to ship in food, they cannot transport sufficient foodstuffs to met the need. Millions are dying on Herculon and the ecological disaster is spreading to other planets.

The Imperial populace is convinced that the Accordans are causing these disasters. The Imperial Senate, ever responsive to the desires of the populace, are ordering the Imperial navy to attack Accord. The Grand Admiral is confirming her orders and proceeding with all deliberate haste.

This story involves Whaler and Sylvia in another interstellar intrigue that goes beyond the boundaries of the Empire. Once again Whaler is the center of violent attacks, mostly disguised as industrial accidents. Whaler and Sylvia avoid major injury and death only by a combination of skill and luck. They are determined to finish the study, but will their efforts be enough to avert interstellar war?

In their spare time, Whaler and Sylvia discuss their personal conflicts and work out means of blending their solitary lives into a partnership. Whaler has a tendency to take charge of situations, but Sylvia has a better feel for relationships. Both must contribute if they are to solve this political dilemma.

Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of political chicanery and public investigation together with a blooming romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Modesitt posits the Ecolitan Institute, on the Coordinate capitol world of
Accord, as a genocide-prevention force: "The Institute, for better or
worse, operates on principle. They try to avoid small wars... by deceit,
assassination, or economic warfare. They willl try any type of small-scale
tactic to avoid war... That's the good side... The other side is that when
they do fight, they insure they don't have to fight that enemy again."

Economist Nathaniel Whaler is sent to the frontier colony of Artos,
ostensibly to do a survey of the planet's infrastructure. His (barely)
covert mission is to look into rumors of war. His task is complicated by
multiple assassination attempts. Clearly, he and the Institute are being
set up as fall guys by one of the interstellar powers - but which one?

Shadowy organizations of dedicated, competent fighters-against-evil are
a classic sf trope, and Modesitt knows the classics. "Enigma" is the latest
and one of the best: thoughtful, well-written, an accurate and disturbing
portrait of the dark side of humanity: "Greed and force - that's all most
people listen to."

This isn't a grim or preachy book [1] - Modesitt's action and intrigue
scenes are first-rate, and the ending is, well, earthshaking. "Enigma" can
be enjoyed as a first-rate political-adventure tale, as the latest part of a
long-running sf conversation, as an examination of human nature... It's
an outstanding work, and I plan to reread it a few years on.

I see I've left out the economic basis of conflict, the well-drawn
characters, the romance amidst danger and intrigue... Well. You'll like it.
Trust me. Assuming you've liked this sort of book before. It's like that,
only better. Subtler, better-written, less self-righteous...
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Note 1). LEM does get a bit heavy-handed at times, especially with his
politicians. And he includes a *major* spoiler (IMO) in the first 20 pages.
But you'll get over it.

Despite being published first in, I believe, 1997, I found the concept of the Ecolitan Enigma itself to seem as though written for current events (2002-2003 timeframe). For the discussion of this enigma, the stand taken in the book, the blurring of right and wrong depending on belief and perspective, and the exploration of the consequences when adhering to the principle, the book was worth reading.