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The Pirates of Zan
Because Bran Hoddan was a serious electronice engineer, he didn't want any part of his planet's heritage. For he was from Zan -- and Zan's only occupation was spaceship piracy!
164 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1959
23 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Murray Leinster
901 books121 followerssee also:
Will F. Jenkins
William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history. He wrote and published over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.
An author whose career spanned the first six decades of the 20th Century. From mystery and adventure stories in the earliest years to science fiction in his later years, he worked steadily and at a highly professional level of craftsmanship longer than most writers of his generation. He won a Hugo Award in 1956 for his novelet “Exploration Team,” and in 1995 the Sidewise Award for Alternate History took its name from his classic story, “Sidewise in Time.” His last original work appeared in 1967.
Will F. Jenkins
William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history. He wrote and published over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.
An author whose career spanned the first six decades of the 20th Century. From mystery and adventure stories in the earliest years to science fiction in his later years, he worked steadily and at a highly professional level of craftsmanship longer than most writers of his generation. He won a Hugo Award in 1956 for his novelet “Exploration Team,” and in 1995 the Sidewise Award for Alternate History took its name from his classic story, “Sidewise in Time.” His last original work appeared in 1967.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 29, 2023
The Pirates of Ersatz was published in 1959 in John W. Campbell's Astounding SF magazine, and then presented in book form with a new title, The Pirates of Zan, as half of one of the classic Ace Double volumes, bound back-to-back with another good Leinster (Murray Leinster was a pseudonym of William F. Jenkins) novel, The Mutant Weapon. It was nominated for a Hugo Award as the best novel of the year but lost to Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers. It's a fun, old-fashioned space opera, and Leinster doesn't let any of his several sly tongue-in-cheek lampoons of economics and politics get in the way of swashbuckling adventure and romance. I read it years and years ago and enjoyed listening to this fine Librivox version under the original title. It's one of Leinster's best.
December 19, 2015
What do you do if you are from a planet famous for its pirates, but you would rather play with electronics? Well, you unconsciously absorb all your Grandfather's pirate wisdom until you are old enough to be on your own, then you go off to another planet and start working on the Master Plan for your life: (a) to achieve splendid things as an electronic engineer, (b) to grow satisfactorily rich, (c) to marry a delightful girl, and (d) end life a great man.
But when do Master Plans ever run smoothly? Our hero Bron Hoddan has a problem that is not compatible with Civilized Society: he has a brain and he knows how to use it. He can't help it if Civilized Society doesn't want him to use his brain. But that is where his trouble begins. Hoddan is an endearing combination of Jimmy Stewart naiveness (things seem to happen to him without his being aware of quite why) and James Cagney tough guy (he knows just how to handle himself when these things happen, he never panics. Well, okay, maybe just a little that one time.)
On his newly adopted civilized planet, he created a receptor that would save the Power Company millions in credits but they are not interested in allowing him to give a demonstration so (here comes Cagney) he breaks into the Power plant and attaches his device anyway. But the next morning the police are at his door and he reverts to Jimmy Stewart. And the situation spirals out of control from this point on.
This late 1950's story was interesting, with bits of sarcastic wisdom tucked here and there. For example, here is what the Interstellar Ambassador tells Hoddan: You proposed to improve a technical process in a society which considers itself beyond improvement. If you'd succeeded, the idea of change would have spread, people now poor would have gotten rich, people now rich would have gotten poor, and you'd have done what all governments are established to prevent.
Or this, when Hoddan (in Cagney mode) has kidnapped a few soldiers to use as a pirate crew:
When men are to be led it is rarely wise to discuss policy or tactics with them. Most men work best
when they know only what is expected of them. Then they can't get confused and they do not get ideas of how to do things better.
I had the distinct feeling that Leinster was commenting on the high muckety-mucks of his day, and enjoying himself while doing so. This was the second or maybe third Leinster story I've read, and it won't be the last.
But when do Master Plans ever run smoothly? Our hero Bron Hoddan has a problem that is not compatible with Civilized Society: he has a brain and he knows how to use it. He can't help it if Civilized Society doesn't want him to use his brain. But that is where his trouble begins. Hoddan is an endearing combination of Jimmy Stewart naiveness (things seem to happen to him without his being aware of quite why) and James Cagney tough guy (he knows just how to handle himself when these things happen, he never panics. Well, okay, maybe just a little that one time.)
On his newly adopted civilized planet, he created a receptor that would save the Power Company millions in credits but they are not interested in allowing him to give a demonstration so (here comes Cagney) he breaks into the Power plant and attaches his device anyway. But the next morning the police are at his door and he reverts to Jimmy Stewart. And the situation spirals out of control from this point on.
This late 1950's story was interesting, with bits of sarcastic wisdom tucked here and there. For example, here is what the Interstellar Ambassador tells Hoddan: You proposed to improve a technical process in a society which considers itself beyond improvement. If you'd succeeded, the idea of change would have spread, people now poor would have gotten rich, people now rich would have gotten poor, and you'd have done what all governments are established to prevent.
Or this, when Hoddan (in Cagney mode) has kidnapped a few soldiers to use as a pirate crew:
When men are to be led it is rarely wise to discuss policy or tactics with them. Most men work best
when they know only what is expected of them. Then they can't get confused and they do not get ideas of how to do things better.
I had the distinct feeling that Leinster was commenting on the high muckety-mucks of his day, and enjoying himself while doing so. This was the second or maybe third Leinster story I've read, and it won't be the last.
September 22, 2017
This Hugo nominated novel is a lot of fun, it didn't win the Hugo, neither did the other nominees "The Sirens of Titan" and "Dorsai!" they all lost out to "Starship Troopers", a pretty nice group of novels for 1959. I'd decided to read it in celebration of Talk Like a Pirate Day 2017, so a few days later I had time to read it. The beginning is decidedly pirate free but the fast moving story doesn't take too long to get to the pirates. I've never seen pirates such as these and the way they turn a profit while saving galactic civilization is highly entertaining.
October 28, 2023
Fantasy reading 📚
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me, a will written fantasy Sci-Fi adventure thriller novella about a young man 🚹coming of age. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is fast moving, fun, violent, and a little romance racing to the conclusion. Enjoy reading 🔰2021😆
I listened to this as part of The 11th Science Fiction Megapack. It was very interesting with will developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to the conclustion. 2023
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me, a will written fantasy Sci-Fi adventure thriller novella about a young man 🚹coming of age. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is fast moving, fun, violent, and a little romance racing to the conclusion. Enjoy reading 🔰2021😆
I listened to this as part of The 11th Science Fiction Megapack. It was very interesting with will developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to the conclustion. 2023
March 17, 2019
Bron Hodon's homeworld has one occupation - space piracy. His dream, naturally, is to be an electrical engineer. Whether he tries to ply his trade on a sophisticated world or a barbarian one, no one seems interested in engineers. He winds up bouncing from one problem (and adventure) to another, leaning on advice that his grandfather, a sage space pirate, gave him long ago. This is a great example of Leinster's trademark tongue-in-cheek humor.
Like many Leinster heroes, Bron is ingenious, who notices details, thinks outside the box, and tries to solve problems rather than giving up when the going gets tough. Leinster gives the reader credit for intelligence and the ability to keep up with the hero, while telling a rattling good yarn.
This is a favorite of mine and I haven't reread (or listened) for just long enough to really enjoy the story twists thoroughly. This is a really good reading and I enjoyed the narrator's ability to do different voices.
Like many Leinster heroes, Bron is ingenious, who notices details, thinks outside the box, and tries to solve problems rather than giving up when the going gets tough. Leinster gives the reader credit for intelligence and the ability to keep up with the hero, while telling a rattling good yarn.
This is a favorite of mine and I haven't reread (or listened) for just long enough to really enjoy the story twists thoroughly. This is a really good reading and I enjoyed the narrator's ability to do different voices.
September 17, 2018
Storyline: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 1/5
The Pirates of Zan features a hapless protagonist who regularly finds himself in absurd predicaments not entirely of his own making. Resourceful, motivated, and with enough wit to outsmart an army of commoners, Bron Hoddan salvages misadventure after misadventure by taking advantage of the skills from his upbringing and a natural intellect. The first half gallops along, tossing out piercing commentaries on society erratically along the trek and with craftily designed escapes laced with comedy-of-errors embellishments. This is not prose to ponder or relish; this is supposed to be read rapidly and in a sitting. It is most dazzling for what it accomplishes in the rapid delivery, the story bursting with interconnections, surprises, and bite. The pace leaves one breathless, and one wonders who will falter first, the reader or the author. It does end up proving too much of a challenge for Leinster to keep up the pace for the entirety of the book, and the escapades of the latter half are more laboriously constructed and contrived. The story manages to keep the absurd tone throughout, though, ending with the same fanfare with which it began. This is not an era from which I find a lot of science fiction books to enjoy, but it fits right in with a few gems I've come across: Poul Anderson's High Crusade, Harry Harrison's 2nd Deathworld, or James H. Schmitz's The Witches of Karres.
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 1/5
The Pirates of Zan features a hapless protagonist who regularly finds himself in absurd predicaments not entirely of his own making. Resourceful, motivated, and with enough wit to outsmart an army of commoners, Bron Hoddan salvages misadventure after misadventure by taking advantage of the skills from his upbringing and a natural intellect. The first half gallops along, tossing out piercing commentaries on society erratically along the trek and with craftily designed escapes laced with comedy-of-errors embellishments. This is not prose to ponder or relish; this is supposed to be read rapidly and in a sitting. It is most dazzling for what it accomplishes in the rapid delivery, the story bursting with interconnections, surprises, and bite. The pace leaves one breathless, and one wonders who will falter first, the reader or the author. It does end up proving too much of a challenge for Leinster to keep up the pace for the entirety of the book, and the escapades of the latter half are more laboriously constructed and contrived. The story manages to keep the absurd tone throughout, though, ending with the same fanfare with which it began. This is not an era from which I find a lot of science fiction books to enjoy, but it fits right in with a few gems I've come across: Poul Anderson's High Crusade, Harry Harrison's 2nd Deathworld, or James H. Schmitz's The Witches of Karres.
April 17, 2024
ENGLISH: Unpretentious novel of interstellar adventures in medieval and modern settings, with an unlikely protagonist who always gets out of dead-end situations, who is looking for a delightful girl, and whose biggest problem is choosing between two of them. By no means, among the best I have read by Leinster.
ESPAÑOL: En español, el título de esta obra se traduciría así: "Piratas de Pacotilla". Novela sin pretensiones de aventuras interestelares en entornos medievales y modernos, con un protagonista inverosímil que sale siempre bien librado de situaciones sin salida, que anda buscando una chica deliciosa, y cuyo mayor problema es elegir entre dos de ellas. No es, ni mucho menos, de lo mejor que he leído de Leinster.
ESPAÑOL: En español, el título de esta obra se traduciría así: "Piratas de Pacotilla". Novela sin pretensiones de aventuras interestelares en entornos medievales y modernos, con un protagonista inverosímil que sale siempre bien librado de situaciones sin salida, que anda buscando una chica deliciosa, y cuyo mayor problema es elegir entre dos de ellas. No es, ni mucho menos, de lo mejor que he leído de Leinster.
January 17, 2015
Great fun! One of the classics that I've read a number of times over the decades (yah, I'm old), and have enjoyed it every time. It holds up well over the years, unlike a lot of other books.
It is a classic Leinster book, so if you don't like his style then you won't like this.
Not laugh-out-loud funny, but certainly a light-hearted romp. What saves it, I think, is Leinster's wry humour and clear insights into people and societies.
It is a classic Leinster book, so if you don't like his style then you won't like this.
Not laugh-out-loud funny, but certainly a light-hearted romp. What saves it, I think, is Leinster's wry humour and clear insights into people and societies.
February 12, 2012
Planetary adventure, as Bron Hoddan attempts to runaway from his native planet of Zan, where his relatives are to be executed...
He escapes to the planet Walden hoping to establish himself as an electrical engineer but then one day the police come looking for him...
He escapes to the planet Walden hoping to establish himself as an electrical engineer but then one day the police come looking for him...
April 15, 2015
This is a great little story, very reminiscent of Vance albeit without the eloquence of Jack's love of language, highly recommended.
October 27, 2023
With a title like "The Pirates of Ersatz", it's hard to resist. The setting is more-or-less standard golden-age fare - humanity is spread over a lot of different planets at different levels of social, technological, and economic development. Ships regularly travel between these planets, and some largely unseen organisation (which comprises at least the "Galactic Diplomatic Service" and the "Space Patrol") keeps everything together. In this galaxy, Bron Hoddan, scion of a pirate clan, tries to walk the straight and narrow as an electronics engineer. But the planet he starts his career is so over-regulated and satiated that it has no interest in his inventions - in fact, they might create change, the worst possible outcome. He is framed for a murder he did not commit (though he did commit all the concrete steps he was accused of), and flees off-worlds, to start a life of adventure and, yes, piracy.
It's a reasonably entertaining yarn, though the hero is a bit to competent in too many things he should have no idea about (e.g. finding a firm of lawyers of ancient and impeccable reputation, but still willing to sell his contraband and handle his investments - on a planet he has never been to before). In the end, he even gets the second girl (not really distinguishable from the first girl) in a way that really feels like a YA novel.
Leinster seems to promote a thoroughly American individual hero narrative, with society unreasonably trying to hold back our genius. But with a minimal shift in perspective, it becomes clear that Bron is an an egoistical, borderline psychopathic individual. He kidnaps his crew (multiple times), steals space-ships, robs, and manipulates planetary economies, all apparently with the excuse that the end justifies the means. His morals shift as easily as he moves from planet to planet. It takes a bit of conscious effort to ignore this.
Overall, I did not regret reading "The Pirates of Ersatz", but had hoped for more. I've had more fun with other books, even bad ones.
It's a reasonably entertaining yarn, though the hero is a bit to competent in too many things he should have no idea about (e.g. finding a firm of lawyers of ancient and impeccable reputation, but still willing to sell his contraband and handle his investments - on a planet he has never been to before). In the end, he even gets the second girl (not really distinguishable from the first girl) in a way that really feels like a YA novel.
Leinster seems to promote a thoroughly American individual hero narrative, with society unreasonably trying to hold back our genius. But with a minimal shift in perspective, it becomes clear that Bron is an an egoistical, borderline psychopathic individual. He kidnaps his crew (multiple times), steals space-ships, robs, and manipulates planetary economies, all apparently with the excuse that the end justifies the means. His morals shift as easily as he moves from planet to planet. It takes a bit of conscious effort to ignore this.
Overall, I did not regret reading "The Pirates of Ersatz", but had hoped for more. I've had more fun with other books, even bad ones.
September 12, 2018
This is such a fun improbable little story. The hero gets into and out of more scrapes than any human ever survived. He is improbably smart, infinitely wise, and wonderfully caring. All while just trying to invent something marvelous, make money, and mary a delightful girl. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, civilization, that is the first major obstacle then there is barbarism to overcome. Apathy, greed, custom, fear, ignorance, and jealousy all just might derail those marvelous plans of his. He does have one staunch ally. His Grandfather just might be able to pull him through all of this.
There are a few curse words. There is nothing else objectionable. I would recommend it as a very fun read.
Well, civilization, that is the first major obstacle then there is barbarism to overcome. Apathy, greed, custom, fear, ignorance, and jealousy all just might derail those marvelous plans of his. He does have one staunch ally. His Grandfather just might be able to pull him through all of this.
There are a few curse words. There is nothing else objectionable. I would recommend it as a very fun read.
September 18, 2018
Fun and short, this serialization is available free from several sources and worth the read. Satire, humor, and interesting characters rounded out a series of misadventures for the main character. I always enjoy new characters being introduced late in the book. The ending was a satisfying wrap up for such a silly read.
August 29, 2019
This was a great story! The hero just made things happen and there was a devil may care attitude throughout the whole book. I loved it! Definitely pick this one up!
April 9, 2023
I'm split on this one (literally, haha).
My normal mode of reading didn't enjoy this at all. The worldbuilding was almost completely absent, the characters lacking, and the plot seemingly nowhere to be found. It didn't really stand up. As a side note, the author's character notes seem like they were talking about totally different characters because their descriptions didn't hold up in my opinion.
Halfway through the book I decided to focus on the action and remember that this is a pulp science fiction book where everything serves the action of the hero. In this case, it was okay. The action could have been written better, but it was fun.
An easy read, definitely the best, but it had its fun moments.
My normal mode of reading didn't enjoy this at all. The worldbuilding was almost completely absent, the characters lacking, and the plot seemingly nowhere to be found. It didn't really stand up. As a side note, the author's character notes seem like they were talking about totally different characters because their descriptions didn't hold up in my opinion.
Halfway through the book I decided to focus on the action and remember that this is a pulp science fiction book where everything serves the action of the hero. In this case, it was okay. The action could have been written better, but it was fun.
An easy read, definitely the best, but it had its fun moments.
March 2, 2014
It was not mere impulsive action when Bron Hoddan started for the planet Walden by stowing away on a ship that had come to his native planet to hang all his relatives. He'd planned it long before. It was a long-cherished and carefully worked out scheme. He didn't expect the hanging of his relatives, of course. He knew that they'd act grieved and innocent, and give proof that they were simple people leading blameless lives. They'd make their would-be executioners feel ashamed and apologetic for having thought evil of them, and as soon as the strangers left they'd return to their normal way of life, which was piracy. But while this was going on, Bron Hoddan stowed away on the menacing vessel. Presently he arrived at its home world. But his ambition was to reach Walden, so he set about getting there. It took a long time because he had to earn ship-passage from one solar system to another, but he held to his idea. Walden was the most civilized planet in that part of the galaxy. On Walden, Hoddan intended, in order (a) to achieve splendid things as an electronic engineer, (b) to grow satisfactorily rich, (c) to marry a delightful girl, and (d) end his life a great man. But he had to spend two years trying to arrange even the first.
December 15, 2015
One of the best of Murray Leinster in my opinion. It's got the classic Leinster hero who's a very smart engineer, turns out to be surprisingly good at manipulating people, takes bold and clever action, but can be a bit clueless about people at times. (And those are the times you are snickering at him.)
This book has some of Leinster's best social satire--at times approaching even the Retief books by Keith Laumer, but with a much lighter touch. It also has a pretty good plot: a brilliant engineer finds society not receptive to his world-changing inventions, so he goes off to change another world. Along the way, he saves several other worlds.
I think this book is enjoyable for a wide range of ages. My boys (7 and 10) loved it, and so did I.
The very light and fluffy romance feels dated and stereotypical for early science fiction (i.e., its stereotypes would be offensive if released today), so you have to appreciate it as a piece of period fiction. That's not really an integral part of the story, though.
By the way, this story is also known as "The Pirates of Zan", and you can buy it under that name too. I have no idea why he called it the Pirates of Ersatz originally, because (unless I missed it) that name does not appear in the book, but Zan does.
This book has some of Leinster's best social satire--at times approaching even the Retief books by Keith Laumer, but with a much lighter touch. It also has a pretty good plot: a brilliant engineer finds society not receptive to his world-changing inventions, so he goes off to change another world. Along the way, he saves several other worlds.
I think this book is enjoyable for a wide range of ages. My boys (7 and 10) loved it, and so did I.
The very light and fluffy romance feels dated and stereotypical for early science fiction (i.e., its stereotypes would be offensive if released today), so you have to appreciate it as a piece of period fiction. That's not really an integral part of the story, though.
By the way, this story is also known as "The Pirates of Zan", and you can buy it under that name too. I have no idea why he called it the Pirates of Ersatz originally, because (unless I missed it) that name does not appear in the book, but Zan does.
August 31, 2012
I read the original "The Pirates of Ersatz" version and thought it very weak. The characters are flat, the science is irrelevant, and worst of all, the writing is clumsy: adverbs abound, word choice is careless and repetitive. Never have I seen more characters "seem to look almost peevishly" at someone. The loose plot ties up a little at the end, but not enough to save the novel. The main character comes across as a Candide-type without the charm. There were elements of satire but it's hard to make fun of something when the source is so laughable. I'm told Leinster's short stories are superior to his novels, but I think I've had enough. I think two stars is a bit high, but I'll cut the book some slack because of its age.
April 1, 2010
Both an old fashioned space opera, and a cutting satire, Murray Leinster's The Pirates of Ersatz can be enjoyed on multiple levels. Thrill to tales of space piracy, smile wryly at the follies of men, nod sagely as Mr. Leinster elucidates the underpinnings of economics. An enjoyable and thought provoking read from a time when men were men, and women were NOT to be trifled with.
February 17, 2016
It is often said that you can not be a fan of Murray Leinster and Ivan Efremov at the same time as they represent completely different types of fiction.
I am a fan of Efremov.
"The Pirates of Zan" (or "Erzatz") never really develops any of its characters, and these soulless beings wonder in a simple plot until it eventually reaches some kind of climax. And that's it.
I am a fan of Efremov.
"The Pirates of Zan" (or "Erzatz") never really develops any of its characters, and these soulless beings wonder in a simple plot until it eventually reaches some kind of climax. And that's it.
August 12, 2011
I actually really enjoyed this book, and would suggest that everyone who enjoys humorous sci-fi to read it. But, it's not Great Literature, which is why I'm only giving it three stars. It's light, fluffy reading and enjoyable.
May 28, 2010
Engaging 1950s space opera from one of the more popular authors of the era. This novel is not as clever as Leinster's Med Ship stories, but it is a short, light read.
January 5, 2012
Cute, funny and an easy read
September 1, 2013
A little slow to get going so don't give up too soon. If you have liked his other books this one will probably work for you too.
Read
March 18, 2014Fun space adventure!
October 9, 2016
As classic as classic gets. Leinster doesn't get the sort of love Heinlein or Asimov or Clarke do, but he deserves it.
January 9, 2017
It was a good book, cute, but ended too abruptly. Alot of the sentence structure was werid and hard to read.
May 21, 2021
Acusado injustamente de un crimen terrible, el ingeniero Bran Hodder se ve empujado a una vida de fugitivo, que indefectiblemente acaba conduciéndolo hacia el negocio familiar del que había estado huyendo, que no es otro que el de la piratería espacial. "The pirates of Zan" es una novela de aventuras bien construida, con los típicos personajes simples pero resultones de la época, pero con una adecuado equilibrio entre la imitación de historias clásicas (del oeste, de piratas, medievales...) y el toque diferenciador de la ciencia ficción. Tras un breve período de adaptación, se lee de un tirón y resulta razonablemente entretenida.
Lo malo es que, a la postre, resulta también perfectamente olvidable. No hay en toda la novela ni una sola idea que inivite a pensar más allá de ella misma, ni una reflexión aplicable a nuestra realidad. De hecho, el armazón ideológico... digamos que es tan cuestionable como endeble, lo cual supone un gran inconveniente el mismo año en que triunfó en los Hugo (premio al que estuvo nominada) la polémica "Tropas del espacio" de Robert A. Heinlein (y un tal Vonnegut encontraba por fin su voz con "Las sirenas de Titán).
En breve, reseña completa en Rescepto Indablog (http://rescepto.wordpress.com).
Lo malo es que, a la postre, resulta también perfectamente olvidable. No hay en toda la novela ni una sola idea que inivite a pensar más allá de ella misma, ni una reflexión aplicable a nuestra realidad. De hecho, el armazón ideológico... digamos que es tan cuestionable como endeble, lo cual supone un gran inconveniente el mismo año en que triunfó en los Hugo (premio al que estuvo nominada) la polémica "Tropas del espacio" de Robert A. Heinlein (y un tal Vonnegut encontraba por fin su voz con "Las sirenas de Titán).
En breve, reseña completa en Rescepto Indablog (http://rescepto.wordpress.com).
December 5, 2024
The Pirates of Ersatz, a.k.a. The Pirates of Zan, first published in Astounding, was nominated for a Hugo in 1960. Leinster was up against some tough competition, including Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan, and Dickson’s Dorsai!
Leinster knew his market, and Pirates is a novel designed to appeal to Astounding’s editor, John W. Campbell. Campbell liked engineer protagonists who could use their creativity to respond heroically to any challenge. Bron Hoddan is exactly that kind of guy, though he doesn’t know it. An electrical engineer who grew up on a hardscrabble planet whose principal industry was piracy, he is thrust back into the family business when he is falsely accused of inventing a death ray. He is living on the conservative middle-class planet of Walden—whose name is perhaps an ironic tribute to Henry David Thoreau, the author of “Civil Disobedience.” Hoddan seems the perfect citizen whose goals are simple: “(a) to achieve splendid things as an electronic engineer, (b) to grow satisfactorily rich, (c) to marry a delightful girl, and (d) end his life a great man.” Leinster’s droll humor shows us that conformity and creativity are not a good match. Hoddan turns out to be a creative nonconformist, even among pirates.
Leinster knew his market, and Pirates is a novel designed to appeal to Astounding’s editor, John W. Campbell. Campbell liked engineer protagonists who could use their creativity to respond heroically to any challenge. Bron Hoddan is exactly that kind of guy, though he doesn’t know it. An electrical engineer who grew up on a hardscrabble planet whose principal industry was piracy, he is thrust back into the family business when he is falsely accused of inventing a death ray. He is living on the conservative middle-class planet of Walden—whose name is perhaps an ironic tribute to Henry David Thoreau, the author of “Civil Disobedience.” Hoddan seems the perfect citizen whose goals are simple: “(a) to achieve splendid things as an electronic engineer, (b) to grow satisfactorily rich, (c) to marry a delightful girl, and (d) end his life a great man.” Leinster’s droll humor shows us that conformity and creativity are not a good match. Hoddan turns out to be a creative nonconformist, even among pirates.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews