Customer Reviews

The Syndic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow, Kornbluth left the SF community way to soon - at the age of 37! Unreal. This novel is fast-paced and exciting. The concepts in this book are very interesting, and so are the characters. Although the actual character development is not the main focus, the actual world is believable and horrifying. As a futuristic novel, only the mention of tape and lack of cell phones seem unrealistic. You know what's awesome about this in contrast to some modern authors? When a character has an uninteresting meal, we aren't given any details, just that the character had an uninteresting meal -- what a relief! (Seriously, if you're not going to mention the details of the bm, why mention the details of the meal?) My main complaint is that the ending comes too soon. My second is that occasionally, very convenient acquaintances are made, but these turn out to be much less tacky than the norm.

One of the most original, intrigueing, and readable future history novels I've read. After about two hundred years, America is ruled by Mafia-like factions - the Syndic in the East, and the Mob in the West. The Government in exile consists of the US Navy based in Iceland.

The author, or at least his protagonist, seems to come from a libertarian viewpoint, making the Syndic's loose rules seem utopian. Gambling, prostitution, etc. are legal. Only such heinous acts as murder and rape are frowned on - and acted on - by the organization. The story follows the adventures of a young Syndic bagman who volunteers to infiltrate the government in exile, to determine if they are responsible for recent assassinations. This entails mind control to prevent his exposure by lie detectors, drugs, etc. What he learns about the government is shocking - they've become more a terrorist / pirate operation than anything resembling the old Navy. Taken to a base in Ireland, he learns most of Europe has reverted to savagery, and escaping the government he falls into the hands of a pagan witch.

More twists and turns propel the story with insightful social speculation along the way, such as when the protagonist ruminates: "Back in Syndic Territory, fat, sloppy, happy Syndic Territory, did they know how good they had it? He wished he could tell them to cling to their good life. But Uncle Frank said it didn't do any good to cling; it was a matter of tension and relaxation. When you stiffen up a way of life and try to fossilize it so it'll stay that way forever, then you find you've lost it."

My favorite author is Robert A. Heinlein, and this novel vividly reminds me of some of Heinleins earlier adult novels, especially in the level of intrigue and the style that blends in the social comment, such as Heinlein's "Sixth Column" (a.k.a. "The Day After Tomorrow"), "Gulf," "If This Goes On . . ." ("Revolt In 2100"), and "Double Star." Kornbluth even touches on topics like polyandry and cannibalism, and specifically borrows (?) from Heinlein's future history story "The Roads Must Roll," using multi-lane, speed-graduated coveyor-belt people movers for tranportion in his future cities.

Having read all of Heinlein's books - most twice - I've sought similar books to read for years, and this is one of the few that satisfied me. Unfortunately I understand that Kornbluth died relatively young, at 35. Right now I'm looking for more books by Cyril M. Kornbluth.

Written in the golden age of science fiction, and shows it. Nevertheless, it's an interesting story that comes to some surprising conclusions. War has rendered significant portions of Europe either uninhabitable or barbaric. The U.S. Government has failed, to be replaced by organized crime -- Syndic is short for Syndicate. The unusual premise is that a well-run criminal organization is a better government than the one it replaced. If you have a fondness for Heinlein, Ayn Rand, or the Libertarians, you'll like this book.

Unfortunately for sci-fi fans, Cyril M. Kornbluth had a very short life (1923-1958). Nevertheless he was able to deliver several very good novels alone or usually in collaboration with other authors as "Gladiator-at-law" (1954) in collaboration with his friend Frederik Pohl (1919), "Gunner Cade" (with Judith Merril 1952) and "The Space Merchants" (with Pohl 1952).

"The Syndic" (1953) is one of the few he authored alone. Afterwards the author said this is "a sick book", I definitely do not agree with him.

The plot is as follows: in this future world America is divided in two halves and ruled by The Mob in the West and The Syndic in the East, the former USA Government is in exile in Iceland. In a very compact introduction the author gives a short view as how the world arrived to this strange situation, leaving a lot to the readers' imagination to fill the gaps.

Charles Orsino is little minion of the ruling Family of The Syndic who volunteers for a delicate spying mission abroad. There he discovers the dreadful reality of the exiles' way of life, the decadence and savagism that has overcome Europe and plunges into a full-action adventure.

The author's libertarian ideals impregnate the whole story, in some ways it resembles, IMHO, to Heinlein's depiction of Luna society in "The Moon is a Hard Mistress". This fact do not diminish the interest of the story, by the contrary it enhances it as the reader is confronted with an idealistic utopia facing mortal menaces from "lawful" opponents.

This book is, as others from the author, a wonderful example of a turning point in sci-fi literature from traditional technological spaces operas to a more humanistic and sociological subjects.
Enjoy this somehow underrated and ignored sci-fi classic!

Reviewed by Max Yofre

Unfortunately for sci-fi fans, Cyril M. Kornbluth had a very short life (1923-1958). Nevertheless he was able to deliver several very good novels alone or usually in collaboration with other authors as "Gladiator-at-law" (1954) in collaboration with his friend Frederik Pohl (1919), "Gunner Cade" (with Judith Merril 1952) and "The Space Merchants" (with Pohl 1952).

"The Syndic" (1953) is one of the few he authored alone. Afterwards the author said this is "a sick book", I definitely do not agree with him.

The plot is as follows: in this future world America is divided in two halves and ruled by The Mob in the West and The Syndic in the East, the former USA Government is in exile in Iceland. In a very compact introduction the author gives a short view as how the world arrived to this strange situation, leaving a lot to the readers' imagination to fill the gaps.

Charles Orsino is little minion of the ruling Family of The Syndic who volunteers for a delicate spying mission abroad. There he discovers the dreadful reality of the exiles' way of life, the decadence and savagism that has overcome Europe and plunges into a full-action adventure.

The author's libertarian ideals impregnate the whole story, in some ways it resembles, IMHO, to Heinlein's depiction of Luna society in "The Moon is a Hard Mistress". This fact do not diminish the interest of the story, by the contrary it enhances it as the reader is confronted with an idealistic utopia facing mortal menaces from "lawful" opponents.

This book is, as others from the author, a wonderful example of a turning point in sci-fi literature from traditional technological spaces operas to a more humanistic and sociological subjects.
Enjoy this somehow underrated and ignored sci-fi classic!

Reviewed by Max Yofre

Unfortunately for sci-fi fans, Cyril M. Kornbluth had a very short life (1923-1958). Nevertheless he was able to deliver several very good novels alone or usually in collaboration with other authors as "Gladiator-at-law" (1954) in collaboration with his friend Frederik Pohl (1919), "Gunner Cade" (with Judith Merril 1952) and "The Space Merchants" (with Pohl 1952).

"The Syndic" (1953) is one of the few he authored alone. Afterwards the author said this is "a sick book", I definitely do not agree with him.

The plot is as follows: in this future world America is divided in two halves and ruled by The Mob in the West and The Syndic in the East, the former USA Government is in exile in Iceland. In a very compact introduction the author gives a short view as how the world arrived to this strange situation, leaving a lot to the readers' imagination to fill the gaps.

Charles Orsino a little minion of the ruling Family of The Syndic volunteers for a delicate spying mission abroad. There he discovers the dreadful reality of the exiles' way of life, the decadence and savagism that has overcome Europe and plunges into a full-action adventure.

The author's libertarian ideals impregnate the whole story, in some ways it resembles, IMHO, to Heinlein's depiction of Luna society in "The Moon is a Hard Mistress". This fact do not diminish the interest of the story, by the contrary it enhances it as the reader is confronted with an idealistic utopia facing mortal menaces from "lawful" opponents.

This book is, as others from the author, a wonderful example of a turning point in sci-fi literature from traditional technological spaces operas to a more humanistic and sociological subjects.
Enjoy this somehow underrated and ignored sci-fi classic!

Reviewed by Max Yofre

C.M. Kornbluth was a co-author with Frederik Phol and was also the editor of 'The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction', but before that he also wrote stories. 'The Syndic' is a full length novel of his that he should of done more work on. One problem is he goes through so fast, he gives little in the way of details. He touches on the Mob, the Syndic, a US Government with its capital in Iceland and navel bases in Ireland and England, while also talking about magical witches and psychology all within less than 250 pages. There is little or no background about how the world ended up this way and there is no suggestion that it will get better either!
We don't even get a chance to like the characters or really understand the settings or cultures we get to visit. The story is hard to pin down, is it sci-fi or a lecture on politics?
I would not suggest this book, unless you know and enjoy the author's work ALREADY.