This short novel is about Jim Keil, an earth born human trained on Alpha Centauri III to be a spy. His mission is to impress Princess Afuan with his bullfighting skills enough to gain passage to the Throne World. That is where the High-born live and rule the empire. The reason Earth wants Jim to spy on the High-born is to determine if Earth, who was recently re-discovered by the Empire, really is a lost world of the Empire or if it evolved entirely on its own and does not have to be part of the Empire.The story proceeds with Jim getting to the Throne World and immediately being embroiled in a plot by certain High-borns to overthrow the Emperor. Jim proves to be more than a "Wolfling" and impresses a few High-born enough to be nominated for adoption into the Throne World. This privilege allows him to get close to many key players and in the end resolves the plot.He then goes back to Earth and is tried for treason because he went far afield of his original assignment. The trial and revelations about Jim are interesting.I liked this book even though the ending could have been a little better but it was still very satisfying. Dickson uses the short length of the novel to keep the pace brisk and very little fluff is in this book. I have found that most novels of this time period in scifi were brief. The market then wanted these books and authors of the time were skilled at delivering taut plots and great stories. Today's bigger novels are not necessarily better for their girth but that is what the market requires so that what is written.Dickson is better known for the Dorsai novels but he wrote many stand-alones like this and I have enjoyed the few I have read. One day I will get around to reading the Dorsai books.
Not expressly labeled as a young adult novel but in no way is it beyond the scope or range of such. The story is somewhat simple and straight forward, also containing a bit of mystery which is pretty predictable over all. The science fiction is more like a light glazing and requires this classification based on the setting of the novel more than the technology therein.The book consists of a single protagonist who is sent on a mission to a far off planet to determine the cause of the residents' stark similarity to Earthly man. He is quickly caught up in the political intrigue and turbulence that is unfolding on the "Throne World" of an interstellar empire.Jim, the protagonist, is entirely too confident and conveniently skilled and aware to ever really feel realistic. Reasons exist for his profound abilities and temperament, but again they fall into the same convenience as the rest of his makeup.It is written well enough that a reader looking for a quick and short adventure without too much depth could and probably would enjoy it. There is a bit of repetitiveness in the way the author rolled from one sentence to another implying perhaps a lackluster editor or proofreader.Not a great and memorable experience, but not bad by any real determinant factors. The characters carry the same attributes and while they were not devoid of development they were not memorable or even substantial.Three stars for a YA level reader.Two stars for anyone else who is just looking for something casual.
