The Probability Broach (Paperback)

by L. Neil Smith (Author)
Key Phrases: The Probability Broach, Heil Smith, Fort Collins (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Contained ideas I wish could be shouted to the world, ideas that come from the American heritage of freedom and which could bring still greater individual liberty, greater technical progress."--Vernor Vinge, author of A Deepness in the Sky

"Pick up a new copy of the book and rediscover this exciting world, and reserve me a table at Meep's Texas Barbecue."--Prometheus
-- Review

Review

"Contained ideas I wish could be shouted to the world, ideas that come from the American heritage of freedom and which could bring still greater individual liberty, greater technical progress."--Vernor Vinge, author of A Deepness in the Sky

"Pick up a new copy of the book and rediscover this exciting world, and reserve me a table at Meep's Texas Barbecue."--Prometheus

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Orb Books (December 12, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 0765301539 ISBN-13: 978-0765301536 Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #188,185 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Probability Broach, Heil Smith, Fort Collins, Vice President, Madame President, Captain Couper, Whiskey Rebellion, World War, John Jay Madison, The Chair, Captain Forsyth, Continental Congress, Saint Charles, Lieutenant Bear, Vaughn Meiss, Genêt Place, Win Bear, George Washington, North America, Oscar Burgess, United States, New Liberty, Liberty Hall, Albert Gallatin, Lysander Spooner

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

12 books cite this book:

• The American Zone by L. Neil Smith in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Send In The Waco Killers: Essays on the Freedom Movement, 1993-1998 by Jeanne Suprynowicz on page 31, and page 360
• The American Zone by L. Neil Smith in Front Matter, and page 350
• The Ballad of Carl Drega by Vin Suprynowicz on page 221
• The New Ayn Rand Companion, Revised and Expanded Edition by Mimi Reisel Gladstein in Back Matter

See all 12 books citing this book

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Customer Reviews

49 Reviews 5 star:  (29) 4 star:  (12) 3 star:  (3) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:  (4)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (49 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 25 of 27 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Intercontinua Chase and Shootout, January 21, 2003 By  Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback) Probability Broach is Smith's first novel. It is the story of a Denver Police Lieutenant Edward William Bear, called Win, who somehow find himself in a different continuum. This novel is followed by a direct sequel, The American Zone, which has some of the flavor but less of the excitement of this novel. Win is on lunch break when he is called to the scene of a homicide. The victim, Vaughn L. Meiss, has been shot multiple times by a machine pistol, yet got off four shots with his own weapon, apparently to good effect. Meiss is a professor of Physics at Colorado State University and is also a card-carrying Propertarian. Since Meiss was killed in the vicinity of the Propertarian state headquarters, Win checks with the staff there and learns that Meiss was expected for an executive committee meeting. After interviewing the State Director, Jenny Noble, and other directors at the meeting, he finds that Meiss had been very excited by something and that the weapon that Meiss was carrying had been provided by the government to protect state secrets. Win also interviews Dr. Otis Bealle, chairman of the CSU Physics department, and gets to see Meiss' office and laboratory. While he is in the lab, several men try to kill him with a machine pistol and other weapons. He accidentally hits the power switch on the gadget in the lab and then dives through an emergency exit, which happens to be an intercontinual portal. Shot, dazed and not very coherent, he stumbles out of the hole on the other side and is then blown through the air by an explosion. Looking for help, he finds a telecom booth containing a screen and a keyboard, where he enters "O" for operator, but the animated drawing that appears cannot find a listing for the Denver Police anywhere in the known solar system. He tries for Bealls' number, but finds no "Otis" listed. However, he sees an adjacent listing for Edward W. Bear, Consulting Detective. The phone is busy, but the location is nearby, so he decides to walk -- make that stagger -- to the address. On the way, he refreshes himself, and his clothes, at a corner pit stop, later is pursued and shot by unknown persons in a long black hovercraft, and then lands face down in front of the other Bear's garage door. When he awakens, he is being treated by a medico with a beautiful voice and a mean electronarcosis gun. When he wakes up again, he discovers that the voice belongs to a gorgeous blonde named Clarissa Olson. He also meets the other Bear, called Ed, as well as Lucille Gallegos Kropotkin, a 136 year old war veteran, judge, and congressperson. Lucy is Ed's next door neighbor and totes two 50 caliber Gabbet Fairfax pistols when she is going on a raid; otherwise, she only carries one during normal everyday activities. Win is now a resident of the North American Confederation governed under Propertarian principles as expounded by Albert Gallatin. The novel is full of political philosophy in between shootouts and chase scenes. The politics is interesting and even intriguing, but well integrated into the action. This is a different kind of novel than most, much like Starship Troopers in its union of thought and action. It makes a good case for universal arming of the population and an even better case against governments of every kind. After 9/11, the idea of arming airline passengers doesn't seem so silly, does it? Recommended for anyone who has seriously considered the nature of governments and individual freedom, but wants his polemic with some excitement. 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A 21st century gumshoe Novel. *****, April 27, 1997 By A Customer This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback) As a 20+ year collector of SF, I feel that this is a refreshing original. Having read it for the first time in 1983, I found that it is still as unique now as it was then. Mr. Smith creates a setting in which his detective gumshoe hero CAN be a hero and get the girl without the emotional baggage of a 'blade-runner'. The context of the story is that a run-of-the-mill cap in the process of solving a political murder stumbles into an alternate probability (similar to H. Beam Piper's Paratime series) that was created when a different word was used in the declaration of independence. What follows is a delightful action packed adventure that is full of understated witticisms and an occasional jab at the status quo. If you are a political partisan of a liberal or socialist bent, you will absolutely despise this book and throw it down in disgust; if you are an adult or are apolitical and don't take it as a gospel view of libertarianism but rather as what it is -- a good fiction tale that is meant to be entertaining -- you'll love it. On a scale from 1-10 I give it an 8.5 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Made Me Think, January 9, 2000 By  John Gracy "jjgracy" (Chattanooga TN) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback) It has been a long time since I read a book that was both fun to read as well as made me think. I haven't figured out all of Mr. Smith's underlying philosophy since I have only read one book by him (The Probability Broach). His idea of stopping air piracy (everyone carries a gun on the aircraft: the airline just checks to make sure that the bullet will not disable the plane) is great. The notion of personal responsibility is great in these days when most people think that the government is supposed to take care of them (womb to the tomb). I liked his book enough that I am going to buy some more novels by him.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read This book is the first in a series by L Neil Smith about an alternate history in which America and the world took a different path after the american revolution. Read more Published 1 month ago by M. Shepherd 5.0 out of 5 stars A Twist On History This is the book to read for fans of The Bill of Rights. It examines a society that's built on personal responsibility, and accountability. Read more Published 19 months ago by Craig S. Schmidt 5.0 out of 5 stars Reality Check This is a wonderful book. Of course I may be a bit biased I am on my fifth or sixth copy of this book. I read the others until the pages disintegrated. Read more Published 23 months ago by Jeffrey C. Rose 5.0 out of 5 stars Such a Creative World. What an Imagination. Have you ever wonder what the world would be like if events had occurred differently? Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a truly free society -- a society where there... Read more Published on May 6, 2007 by ExplorerJoe 5.0 out of 5 stars The way things ought to be Like all science fiction, it is political. It's an in depth analysis of what our country would be like if all who took the oath to uphold and defend the constitution against all... Read more Published on January 2, 2007 by L. L. Baird 5.0 out of 5 stars great libertarian ideas in an easy to swallow dosage! I'm already a libertarian, so I didn't need any convincing, but converting liberals or conservatives really isn't the point of the book anyway. Read more Published on November 23, 2004 by marisa fagan 4.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of the Libertarian Ideal Oh, the story is silly and the writing is just OK, but the portrait painted of the Libertarian ideal is pretty well done. Read more Published on November 23, 2003 by Kevin Murphy 3.0 out of 5 stars For Your Libertarian Library Heavy on its political agenda, and more than a little indebted to Phillip Dick and Sam Spade, "The Probability Broach" is entertaining but message-heavy. Read more Published on December 19, 2002 by I. Brynjegard-Bialik 5.0 out of 5 stars What being an American is all about! This is precisely one of the best books that ever existed, but it is especially important for our time period. Read more Published on June 7, 2002 by Craig M. Rosenblum 3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and entertaining read, but no Heinlein. I read The Probability Broach in 24 hours this past weekend. It was an entertaining read, but somewhat awkward and dated. Read more Published on June 4, 2002 by Seth H. Bokelman Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Orb Books (December 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765301539
• ISBN-13: 978-0765301536
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #188,185 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Intercontinua Chase and Shootout, January 21, 2003

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback)

Probability Broach is Smith's first novel. It is the story of a Denver Police Lieutenant Edward William Bear, called Win, who somehow find himself in a different continuum. This novel is followed by a direct sequel, The American Zone, which has some of the flavor but less of the excitement of this novel.

Win is on lunch break when he is called to the scene of a homicide. The victim, Vaughn L. Meiss, has been shot multiple times by a machine pistol, yet got off four shots with his own weapon, apparently to good effect. Meiss is a professor of Physics at Colorado State University and is also a card-carrying Propertarian. Since Meiss was killed in the vicinity of the Propertarian state headquarters, Win checks with the staff there and learns that Meiss was expected for an executive committee meeting. After interviewing the State Director, Jenny Noble, and other directors at the meeting, he finds that Meiss had been very excited by something and that the weapon that Meiss was carrying had been provided by the government to protect state secrets.

Win also interviews Dr. Otis Bealle, chairman of the CSU Physics department, and gets to see Meiss' office and laboratory. While he is in the lab, several men try to kill him with a machine pistol and other weapons. He accidentally hits the power switch on the gadget in the lab and then dives through an emergency exit, which happens to be an intercontinual portal. Shot, dazed and not very coherent, he stumbles out of the hole on the other side and is then blown through the air by an explosion. Looking for help, he finds a telecom booth containing a screen and a keyboard, where he enters "O" for operator, but the animated drawing that appears cannot find a listing for the Denver Police anywhere in the known solar system. He tries for Bealls' number, but finds no "Otis" listed. However, he sees an adjacent listing for Edward W. Bear, Consulting Detective.

The phone is busy, but the location is nearby, so he decides to walk -- make that stagger -- to the address. On the way, he refreshes himself, and his clothes, at a corner pit stop, later is pursued and shot by unknown persons in a long black hovercraft, and then lands face down in front of the other Bear's garage door. When he awakens, he is being treated by a medico with a beautiful voice and a mean electronarcosis gun. When he wakes up again, he discovers that the voice belongs to a gorgeous blonde named Clarissa Olson. He also meets the other Bear, called Ed, as well as Lucille Gallegos Kropotkin, a 136 year old war veteran, judge, and congressperson. Lucy is Ed's next door neighbor and totes two 50 caliber Gabbet Fairfax pistols when she is going on a raid; otherwise, she only carries one during normal everyday activities.

Win is now a resident of the North American Confederation governed under Propertarian principles as expounded by Albert Gallatin. The novel is full of political philosophy in between shootouts and chase scenes. The politics is interesting and even intriguing, but well integrated into the action.

This is a different kind of novel than most, much like Starship Troopers in its union of thought and action. It makes a good case for universal arming of the population and an even better case against governments of every kind. After 9/11, the idea of arming airline passengers doesn't seem so silly, does it?

Recommended for anyone who has seriously considered the nature of governments and individual freedom, but wants his polemic with some excitement.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 21st century gumshoe Novel. *****, April 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback)

As a 20+ year collector of SF, I feel that this is a refreshing original. Having read it for the first time in 1983, I found that it is still as unique now as it was then. Mr. Smith creates a setting in which his detective gumshoe hero CAN be a hero and get the girl without the emotional baggage of a 'blade-runner'. The context of the story is that a run-of-the-mill cap in the process of solving a political murder stumbles into an alternate probability (similar to H. Beam Piper's Paratime series) that was created when a different word was used in the declaration of independence. What follows is a delightful action packed adventure that is full of understated witticisms and an occasional jab at the status quo. If you are a political partisan of a liberal or socialist bent, you will absolutely despise this book and throw it down in disgust; if you are an adult or are apolitical and don't take it as a gospel view of libertarianism but rather as what it is -- a good fiction tale that is meant to be entertaining -- you'll love it. On a scale from 1-10 I give it an 8.5

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made Me Think, January 9, 2000

By	John Gracy "jjgracy" (Chattanooga TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback)

It has been a long time since I read a book that was both fun to read as well as made me think. I haven't figured out all of Mr. Smith's underlying philosophy since I have only read one book by him (The Probability Broach). His idea of stopping air piracy (everyone carries a gun on the aircraft: the airline just checks to make sure that the bullet will not disable the plane) is great. The notion of personal responsibility is great in these days when most people think that the government is supposed to take care of them (womb to the tomb). I liked his book enough that I am going to buy some more novels by him.