Customer Reviews

The Ecolitan Operation

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What else can I say? I too have a dog-eared old copy that I re-read. It's like an operating manual of tenacity, logic and ultimate ethics for the human spirit...maintaining a perceptive interface with the ignorant machinations of so-called humanity.

The Hero's name,"Major Jim-Joy Earl Wright, Secret Agent of the Empire" gave me to believe that this was just another shoot 'em up space opera. Not so! A clever, technically plausible, mind-bending tale that is hard to put down. You might keep your copy around for reference purposes too; and keep your scotch tape handy because your copy may get a lot of wear.

What's the attraction for this book? My copy is thumbeared and worn, and I still read it at least twice a year, and I have a first edition from 1989. The attraction is simple. It and it's sequel, The Ecologic Secession are straight forward action books on level and highly charged emotional scences on other levels. I introduced my wife to Sci Fi with the "Secession" because it's a love story and a space opera wrapped up in one. But you can't really enjoy the Secession with out reading this book. For those who have never had the pleasure, enjoy!

The Ecolitan Operation is the first novel in the Ecolitan Matter series according to the internal chronology. The United Confederation of Independent Worlds -- otherwise known as the Empire -- is an hegemony of over 190 worlds plus their colonies and other dependencies. The capital of the Empire is at New Augusta on Terra, although many support functions are based off-planet, particularly on Alphane.

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

Careful, for the same price you could get Empire and Ecolitan: Two Complete Novels of the Galactic Empire: The Ecolitan Operation and The Ecologic Secession which contains this book plus the sequel. I'd recommend that buy instead.

In all of Modesitt's books, this one made me the most uncomfortable, because I'm not sure if Jimjoy is a hero or a war criminal. His solutions as a special operative are always violent, terroristic, and result in large losses of life. It is hard for me to think of this man as a hero, because I cannot accept his casual balancing of ends and means. This is discussed in the book itself, and that's what made me like the novel -- not the main character, not the science fiction trappings, but the ethics of 'special operations'.

Recently started reading everything I could by L.E. Modesitt Jr., and every book or series I find suprises me. Deep and thought provoking, but at the same time action packed this is one of his best.