Young Flandry

Technic Civilization Series, Book 4

By: Poul Anderson

Narrated by: BJ Harrison

Length: 22 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

It is the twilight of the Terran Empire. The warriors who made it great are long gone now, and the traders of the Polesotechnic League who made it possible are the dimly remembered stuff of legend. Alien enemies prowl its outer precincts, and sector governors conspire for the Throne of Man. On Terra herself, those who occupy the labyrinthine corridors of power busy themselves with trivialities and internal politics, as outside the final darkness gathers.

In this scene of terminal disarray one man stands like a giant: Dominic Flandry, agent of the Terran Empire. In three full-length novels, he will rise from young ensign to lieutenant commander as he outthinks rivals and thwarts adversaries, blazing a trail across the galaxy in defense of an empire which barely appreciates him and against alien enemies who appreciate him all too well.

Contains mature themes.

©2009 Hank Davis ("Enter a Hero, Somewhat Flawed"); copyright 2008 by Sandra Miesel ("A Chronology of Technic Civilization"); copyright 1966 by Poul Anderson (Ensign Flandry); copyright 1970 by Poul Anderson (A Circus of Hells); copyright 1969 by Poul Anderson (The Rebel Worlds) (P)2021 Tantor

On His Majesty's Secret Service

Three Dominic Flandry novels all written by Poul Anderson as prequels in the late 1960s. These were the first Flandry stories I ever read back in their paperback editions.

My favorite story "Ensign Flandry" is set in the 31st Century and begins on planet Starkad located more than 250 light years from earth. Earth is at the center of the Terran Empire, a sphere 400 light years across containing millions of stars and planets. The Terran Empire and Merseian Empire are fighting an interstellar Cold War supporting different factions at war on planet Starkad. The local natives, called Tigeries, are a primitive warrior race being wooed by both ambassadors. A nineteen year old Flandry in his first assignment at the embassy falls under the wing of commander Max Abrams, head of terran intelligence. The story really takes off beginning in chapter 13 when they all encounter the spy Dwyr carrying critical information. The narrator does a REALLY good job with all the characters especially Lord Hauksberg, Commander Abrams, Dragoika (Tigery), Runei (Merseian), and Dwyr.

"A Circus of Hells" begins on Irumclaw located 200 light years from earth in the direction of the bright star Betelgeuse. Flandry is here to gather more intelligence on the latest plans of the Merseians. He makes contact with Ammon who hires him to survey a former Polesotechnic League mining base abandoned 500 years earlier. This was my least favorite of the 3 novels.

"The Rebel Worlds" is set on planets located near Alpha Crucis, brightest star in the Southern Cross. Admiral McCormac has rebelled against the corrupt sector governor and gathered an army in revolt. Commander Flandry is given his first command of the destroyer Asieneuve and sent to investigate the situation.

BJ Harrison is a talent!

The more I listen to this series, the more I appreciate BJ Harrison! He is a true find - and he brings Poul Anderson to life probably better than any other audiobook reader I know. This is only matched by Bronson Pinchot's readings of the fantasy novels.

The feeling of grand adventure is palpable throughout the Harrison readings. You won't regret this one. At long last, we have a practical radio play of the Technic series on an epic scale.

Entertaining

I like the human story and
flaws of the hero. The politics of the empire were very interesting.