Agent Of The Terran Empire: Ensign Flandry, Book 1 [Paperback]

Poul Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2004

Flandry, here a captain, undergoes a series of adventures: He is abducted by the Scothians, an alien race hoping to invade the Terran Empire; rescues the Emperor's kidnapped granddaughter; meets Aycharaych, his nemesis in league with the Merseians; and investigates a previously unencountered alien race that has invaded the distant colonial world of Vixen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of science fiction's most revered writers."

About the Author

Poul Anderson is one of the grandmasters of Science Fiction - in the company of Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein. Winner of 7 Hugos, two Nebulas and the Gandalf Award. He was a former President of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the father-in-law of current SF favourite, Greg Bear.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: I Books (April 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743479521
• ISBN-13: 978-0743479523
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,571,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great space opera. Goes well with beer and chips., November 4, 2002

By 

Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Agent of the Terran Empire (The Gregg Press science fiction series) (Hardcover)

Dominick Flandry is a 30th Century Horatio Hornblower. This is space opera, plain and simple. But it is very very high quality and readable space opera, and Poul Anderson really does put some effort into speculating about what human society will evolve into, and what alien races will be like. These stories are entertainment. Flandry is extremely likable, and so are the Merseians, the alien bad guys. (They are more or less a cross between the Klingons (whom they predate) and an iguana.)

These short stories are meant to be fun and are that. This is not deep meaningful literature. More like what you'll want to read while drinking beer and eating chips. Hey, nothing wrong with that! What's not to like? If you can find it, buy it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to iBooks, May 14, 2005

By 

G. Styles (Vienna, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Agent Of The Terran Empire: Ensign Flandry, Book 1 (Paperback)

Poul Anderson has only been gone a few years, but already most of his extremely long list of novels and story collections is out of print. iBooks deserves praise for reviving one of Anderson's best characters, Captain Sir Dominic Flandry. Anderson was a pillar of science fiction from the late 1950s into the 1990s, and the Flandry books--part of the larger Technic future history that includes the van Rijn/Falkayn series--were from his strongest period.

I read these stories as a kid and later as an adult and was impressed by how they grew with me--lots of bold adventure, but some serious musings, as well. Flandry is a very modern character, in some respects, with sophisticted tastes and inner conflicts, but also very much a man of his corrupt and decadent time.

If iBooks perseveres with this series, then the best Flandry book--and one of Anderson's best--should be out soon, "A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows."

3.0 out of 5 stars Super Reader, August 3, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agent Terran Empire (Paperback)

Four stories that pits superagent Dominic Flandry against his Merseian nemesis/counterpart/duelling partner. Flandry has the Terran resources to back him, but his opposite number is a telepath of no mean ability.

It is hard to plot and plan with him around, particularly in a diplomatic setting. Batman would be pretty happy with Flandry's valet/butler, pretty good with the spaceship and the raygun.


Agent of the Terran Empire : 1 Tiger by the Tail - Poul Anderson
Agent of the Terran Empire : 2 Warriors From Nowhere! - Poul Anderson
Agent of the Terran Empire : 3 Honorable Enemies - Poul Anderson
Agent of the Terran Empire : 4 A Handful Of Stars - Poul Anderson


Flandry gets involved with some of the ruling class of an alliance opposed to his, and uses their tribal society system against them via some political destabilisation, and a spot of duelling.

4 out of 5


Flandry has to deal with an opposite number with a telepathic advantage.

3 out of 5

Rescue from a dragon by your opponent who is always aware of what you are doing leads Flandry to come up with a cunning plan.

3.5


Flandry gets into to grass roots work on a planet with some nasty conditions, and ends up in deadly shipboard combat, all with the help of a local woman.

3.5 out of 5