Ecolitan Operation, The (Mass Market Paperback)

The Emperor is the titular head of the United Confederation, but most power resides in the Senate. The Empire nominally includes about fifty semi-autonomous principalities on the fringes. The largest of these is the Conglomerate of Fuard, which is aggressively flaunting its military might.

The Empire has long ago ceased to work for the welfare of its member planets, but instead has strived for maintenance of the status quo and perpetuation of the institutions of the Empire itself. The dependent worlds have been hit the hardest with increased taxes and conscripted troops. Armed rebellions have occurred sporadically throughout the colonies.

In this novel, Major Jimjoy Earle Wright III is a Special Operative for the Imperial Space Service who manages to successfully complete the most difficult missions, but who displeases his superiors with the intemperate violence of his methods. They would prefer something more subtle, but Jimjoy does whatever must be done to achieve the objective.

In his current mission, he causes a fusion plant explosion to kill off the Halstani High Command, but has a collateral kill count of over fifty thousand bystanders. His case officer sends him next to Accord to observe and report on the Ecolitan Institute, but the Empire has a lethal surprise waiting for him on the planet. He is ambushed by Imperial agents before he can even check into a hotel.

Jimjoy recognizes the agent who gets away and decides to accept an invitation from the Institute to stay in their facilities. He had wanted to get a feel for the planet before approaching the Institute, but the security aspects seem more important after the attempted assassination. The Ecolitan Prime himself greets Jimjoy when he arrives at the Institute and assures him that he has complete freedom of access to the computers, buildings and classes.

Rumors precede him and he is the subject of many speculations. The Institute provides him a daily itinerary of classes and events which he might want to attend and he is soon impressed by their expertise in genetics and other subjects as well as the accessibility of works that are proscribed in the Empire. He soon becomes a regular participant in the unarmed combat classes.

When Jimjoy is ready to return to the Empire, he enlists the aid of Ecolitan Thelina Andruz to bypass the traps which are surely awaiting him. After returning, he prepares a little insurance before reporting back to his case officer. After a stormy debrief, Jimjoy is hustled off-planet to the hotspot on the New Kansaw on another impossible mission.

In this story, Jimjoy is almost terminated with extreme prejudice by his own organization in several instances in addition to the normal risks of his occupation. Despite a strong sense of loyalty, he begins to understand that there is no place for him in the Empire. He starts to become obsessed by the need to get back to the Institute on Accord, where he has found the only acceptance in his stormy life.

Jimjoy has other reasons to return to Accord, including Ecolitan Thelina. He believes that he loves her, although she confuses and angers him. Nonetheless, Jimjoy is stubborn and perseveres in his pursuit of the lady despite all reproofs.

Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of special operations with a touch of offbeat romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin