Agent of Chaos [Mass Market Paperback]

Rutledge Etheridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

While the Silver and Gold Fleets struggle to recover from their Great Battle, the ""Grounders"" are safe from the plundering of the space clans, and when renegades target a world for destruction, it is up to a Grounder spy to thwart any alliance between the clans. Original."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Ace (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441004644
• ISBN-13: 978-0441004645
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,255,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm not sure this is so good., March 19, 1998

By 

G. H. Goodwin (Near Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agent of Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read this twice now thinking I missed something the first time. It's OK but that's about all. I just couldn't get as engrossed in the story as most people seem to. Maybe I read too much (2-3 books per week) but this reminds me of Seinfeld; "much ado about nothing". Too many vignettes, coupled with a neuter for a main character, just couldn't keep my interest in this as a keeper .

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating concepts, fast paced and satisfying., August 14, 1997

By 

Edward Alexander Gerster "miamibooks" (South Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agent of Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

This is truly one of those books that grips you so firmly you truly don't want to quit reading. The concepts of the future are exciting in a tale of espionage, subtle plans-within-plans, and motivations that seem both familiar and foreign at the same time. Excellent characters, solid plot and lots of unexpected twists and turns as the story unfolds. Highly recommended

4.0 out of 5 stars The more things change, the more they stay the same!!, September 26, 2005

By 

Rutledge Nicholson "Serious Sci-fi Collector" (Ottawa, On. Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agent of Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this three hundred and twelve page book(Ace Books, 1st ed., 1st printing, August 1997, The Berkley Publishing Group) in one sitting so I obviously found it good enough to keep me interested. I also found it to be an interesting comment on the possible evolution of our socio-political systems following the diaspora and the inevitable isolation of large segments of the population due to relativity, lost technology and/or war.

Set in the far future, roughly seven hundred years after the first migrations off-planet, the author assumes a universe in which humankind is alone; this was definitely intentional on the author's part. This story isn't about first contact nor would the existence of aliens support the the point the author is trying to make.

The plot isn't as convoluted or as nested as those in many novels I have read but it seems consistent thoughout, has all it's loose ends tied up satisfactorily by its ending and is as complex as it needs to be given the statement Etheridge is trying to put forward. This novel is not what I would call "hard" science-fiction but then the author was careful not to include any detailed explanations regarding what little science was required to support the story line so I don't see its lack of hard science as a flaw. In fact, it was a smart move!

This isn't and never was intended to be a story about our scientific progress as a species. The author clearly states in the prologue that when we migrate to the stars, we will bring with us our strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams. He is making a clear and I think effective statement about our nature as a species which we have demonstrated consistently throughout history. In the absence of a unifying external threat, we will always find reasons to make war upon ourselves!

All other considerations aside, the real measure of the book is in the fact that I have re-read it several times since I first purchased it and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Nuff sed!