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Brightsuit Macbear
On Majesty, a planet covered from pole-to-pole with jungle six miles deep, Win Bear's great grandson MacDougall battles to prevent a terrible crime and recover a lost inheritance.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1988
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
L. Neil Smith
39 books69 followersL. Neil Smith was a Libertarian science fiction author and gun rights activist.Smith was born in Denver, Colorado.
Smith began publishing science fiction with “Grimm’s Law” for Stellar 5 (1980). He wrote 31 books, including 29 novels, and a number of essays and short stories. In 2016, Smith received the Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement for his contributions to libertarian science fiction.
He was editor of LEVER ACTION BBS [now defunct], founder and International Coordinator of the Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus, Secretary and Legislative Director of the Weld County Fish & Wildlife Association and an NRA Life Member.
Smith passed away on August 27, 2021 in Fort Collins, Colorado at age 75 after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. Smith is survived by daughter Rylla Smith and wife Cathy Smith.
Smith began publishing science fiction with “Grimm’s Law” for Stellar 5 (1980). He wrote 31 books, including 29 novels, and a number of essays and short stories. In 2016, Smith received the Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement for his contributions to libertarian science fiction.
He was editor of LEVER ACTION BBS [now defunct], founder and International Coordinator of the Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus, Secretary and Legislative Director of the Weld County Fish & Wildlife Association and an NRA Life Member.
Smith passed away on August 27, 2021 in Fort Collins, Colorado at age 75 after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. Smith is survived by daughter Rylla Smith and wife Cathy Smith.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2011
Young Berdan Gaenar has lived with his grandfather since the death of his parents. They live aboard the massive starship, Tom Edison Maru.
Suddenly, one day, the 15 year old boy is left alone. His grandfather--for years a virtual recluse--has stolen a prototype special "spacesuit" from a museum. He has fled to the newly opened colony word of Majesty.
This "brightsuit"--hence the title--is full of many experimental electornic advances for protecting the wearer.
Young Berdan swears to find the criminal and the bright suit and to redeem his family honor. He takes his father's name--MacDougall Bear--and is off to the planet Majesty.
The newly named Mac Bear joins up with an alien scientist and some friendly locals and begins his quest.
Unfortunately his quest brings him in contact with two local societies--one authoritarian and one a parody of a "welfare state". So Smith can use these two 'made up" socities to tell us about the joys of a libertarian point of view.
Actually, I think the libertarian position does have some merits--but not in the middle of a novel. It is forced in and slows the story down.
A very light SF read--rather juvenile in tone. The aliens admittedly are well done, but there is not a lot of story here. Definitely not one of l. Neil Smith's best.
Recommended for the patient SF reader---nothing bad about it except the boring politics--just nothing to lift it out of the ordinary. Try L. Neil's Smith's The Probability Broach instead if you like--it is much better.
Suddenly, one day, the 15 year old boy is left alone. His grandfather--for years a virtual recluse--has stolen a prototype special "spacesuit" from a museum. He has fled to the newly opened colony word of Majesty.
This "brightsuit"--hence the title--is full of many experimental electornic advances for protecting the wearer.
Young Berdan swears to find the criminal and the bright suit and to redeem his family honor. He takes his father's name--MacDougall Bear--and is off to the planet Majesty.
The newly named Mac Bear joins up with an alien scientist and some friendly locals and begins his quest.
Unfortunately his quest brings him in contact with two local societies--one authoritarian and one a parody of a "welfare state". So Smith can use these two 'made up" socities to tell us about the joys of a libertarian point of view.
Actually, I think the libertarian position does have some merits--but not in the middle of a novel. It is forced in and slows the story down.
A very light SF read--rather juvenile in tone. The aliens admittedly are well done, but there is not a lot of story here. Definitely not one of l. Neil Smith's best.
Recommended for the patient SF reader---nothing bad about it except the boring politics--just nothing to lift it out of the ordinary. Try L. Neil's Smith's The Probability Broach instead if you like--it is much better.
February 20, 2009
Another story tied in to his Confederacy universe, very entertaining and thought provoking. Enjoyed this sequel novel related to the Win Bear novels.
March 29, 2025
A good read. Fun story. When I was looking for these books, it was the hardest one to find.
March 30, 2018
The adventures of a descendant of Win Bear
I enjoy how each book of the Confederation series stands alone but brings in characters and recalls events from earlier books, and in turn, provides little tidbits and facts mentioned in the next book. These books by L. Neil Smith are important to the libertarian, anarchist, and voluntaryist in that they provide a view into how a stateless society can function in a peaceful and voluntary manner.
I enjoy how each book of the Confederation series stands alone but brings in characters and recalls events from earlier books, and in turn, provides little tidbits and facts mentioned in the next book. These books by L. Neil Smith are important to the libertarian, anarchist, and voluntaryist in that they provide a view into how a stateless society can function in a peaceful and voluntary manner.
August 1, 2013
I garbed this book on a free rack at the library when I was 13, impressed by the pulp-style art on the cover. Giant Eye-ball aliens? Hell yeah! And then... it sat in my closet for 13 years. So now I cracked it out and after finishing this novel, I feel the immense need to cleanse my palette with something more tolerable, like Twilight.
Actually, the two can be comparable in some respects; for that there are many unique aliens and ideas in the book that keep you reading. Also, like Twilight, "unique" doesn't mean it's going to end up being worth your time.
Lets take for example the aliens that are a plot point in the book. Smith takes careful time describing the physiology, culture, and mannerisms of almost everything he mentions. I appreciate that, I love history's. But in and of that... what he writes makes very little sense or seems so forced...
Apes with talking wrist watches control the star-ship's cafeteria. The tall fuzzy crab alien is tri-symmetrical. The talking Dolphin is in charge of sentient squid abort the star ship. Orca's run the night-shift. It all seemed nonsensical.
I know, I know. "It's sci fi, it's going to be out there!" Yes. It is Fi, but it's lacking Sci, and why. WHY is a space ship being crewed by gorillas on unicycles (that is actually in there, never explained, How is it that everything can talk, and when did lower primates gain the intellect to be in a leadership position over man? Why do Orca's run the night shift versus the dolphins? Some of the many questions to be asked, and never answered.
1 out of 5. I like the alien designs but the book is lacking anything that would make it worth searching for.
Actually, the two can be comparable in some respects; for that there are many unique aliens and ideas in the book that keep you reading. Also, like Twilight, "unique" doesn't mean it's going to end up being worth your time.
Lets take for example the aliens that are a plot point in the book. Smith takes careful time describing the physiology, culture, and mannerisms of almost everything he mentions. I appreciate that, I love history's. But in and of that... what he writes makes very little sense or seems so forced...
Apes with talking wrist watches control the star-ship's cafeteria. The tall fuzzy crab alien is tri-symmetrical. The talking Dolphin is in charge of sentient squid abort the star ship. Orca's run the night-shift. It all seemed nonsensical.
I know, I know. "It's sci fi, it's going to be out there!" Yes. It is Fi, but it's lacking Sci, and why. WHY is a space ship being crewed by gorillas on unicycles (that is actually in there, never explained, How is it that everything can talk, and when did lower primates gain the intellect to be in a leadership position over man? Why do Orca's run the night shift versus the dolphins? Some of the many questions to be asked, and never answered.
1 out of 5. I like the alien designs but the book is lacking anything that would make it worth searching for.
July 18, 2017
A fun alternate-history romp that reminds me of the best Heinlein 'juveniles,' and the aliens are quite fun and inventive. Having read this makes me want to track down the rest of the series. It is fairly entertaining and a quick read.
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August 25, 20101ST AMERICAN EDITION
May 8, 2015
1989 grade B-
series book A6
series book B1
series book A6
series book B1
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews