The Game of Fox and Lion

by Robert R. Chase

John Lei Chiang, Centauran councilor and head of a vast, multiplanetary corporation, seeks the aid of Paul Niccolo Renard, last of the MultiNeural Capacitants, to preserve his company, but Renard has his own reason for helping Chiang...

Genres: Science Fiction, Religion, Fiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 1986

Reviews

[Economondos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, solid sci-fi novel. I like the setting, characters and pacing. Humanity has spread to nearby stars and corporate conglomerates rule the Centauri star system. It is in the 'unique human' or 'special mutant' sub-genre. As the main character thinks to himself at one point, Too long, he had been exiled from a human race that valued his talent while considering him loathsome.

Designed as a human supercomputer by a mad scientist, Paul Nicolo Renard is the last of over 100 attempts at a Multi-Neural Capacitant (4 lasted to a sane adulthood). Now some very powerful people want to use him in various ways, but most people just want him dead. We read how he deals with his unique place among humanity.

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story 182. Scott is a specially enhanced Multi-Neural Capacitant with the ability to stop galactic wars. So he's pretty annoyed when Julie kidnaps him to use his mental abilities for memorizing cocktail recipes.

Original review below.

=============

Benedict paused as if contemplating the full extent of the scene he had described. "Nobody wanted war. All were acting in what they perceived to be their best interests. Yet their perceptions were so warped by their sins -- you don't like that word, Chiang. Most of us don't. Perhaps I should date my conversion from the instant I realized that moral theology gave a more accurate account of human conduct than any school of psychology, because it understood that the basis of evil is intentional self-delusion."

Not exactly the sort of statement that we are used to reading in science fiction, is it? This riveting book has the Church and Catholic teachings in the background the entire time, although they are rarely expounded upon as in the above excerpt.

Jon Lei Chiang, a powerful leader, kidnaps the last of the specially enhanced Multi-Neural Capacitants, Paul Niccolo Renard. Renard had joined an order of terraforming monks as Brother Benedict, which is the first of the unexpected twists that Chiang experiences. Indentured to Chiang, Benedict must help him win a war against both his political enemies and also against the Bestials who are warring with human civilization. The Bestials also are "enhanced" humans who have been changed so much that there is continual argument over whether they still can be considered human.

This book covers a lot of ground with plot twists that are surprisingly timely, especially considering the current debates over manipulation of genetics. In addition it is a really good space opera, albeit a tad intellectual compared to the usual space opera fare. I found the last plot twist to be rather predictable but it is still a good read for all that. Definitely recommended.

[David Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space battles, ethics and theology!

What's not to love?

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A-, competent space-opera, not quite up to the sequel, Crucible (1991).

[John Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Chiang is a great scientist who turned Chiang Biosynthetics into a power and gained first family status in the Centauran Council. Now he is facing opposition among the first families. Some of them want to break his company and divvy up the remains among themselves. He is desperate and goes looking for the Multi-Neural Capacitant Paul Niccolo Renard. He finds him on an out of the way planet. He has joined that stewards that are doing terraforming and changed his name to Brother Benedict. It is surprisingly easy for Chiang to get Renard to work for him.

Snowden created a dozen of the super-intelligent MNCs. Renard is the only one still alive. Snowden also created other genetically altered humans suited to be able to work in the expanses of space. The corporations used the Beastials as slave labor until they finally revolted and fled to outer systems. Both Beastials and MNCs were considered inhuman because their genetic make up differs from the base line human. An early ploy by Benedict got the Centauran Council to recognize him as human. The revolt gave them freedom, but there is still tension between the Clans (as the call themselves) and the base line humans (Centaurus and the Terrestrial Confederation).

Discovering the planet Pearl with its Phosphorus and rare earths has kept Chiang Biosynthetics afloat. Now the Centauran Council is withdrawing protection from the planet inviting the Beastials to take over. What plan can Benedict whip up that can save Chiang? Then there is a greater threat of war between the humans and the Clans.

The climactic battle may have gone on too long, or it may just be disturbing because of the death that occurs in war. Either way the epilogue was great.

Probably 4 1/2 stars, but the epilogue was so fresh in my mind to give it the boost.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1987 grade B-

(my note - don't read)