An Enemy of the State

The LaNague Federation #1

by F. Paul Wilson

An Enemy of the State (Book 1 of the LaNague Series) is the heart and soul of F. Paul Wilson's LaNague series, the story of the apocalyptic birth of the LaNague Federation. Peter LaNague's unique revolution sets out to topple the entrenched Outworld Imperium as well as fundamentally altering every Outworlder's concept of government. To accomplish this he must ally himself with a madman, trust the word of the last of Sol System's robber barons, make incisive use of the consummate warriors from the planet Flint (without allowing them to run amok), confound at every turn the omnipresent forces of the Imperium, and, every now and then, make it rain money. And those are the easy parts. LaNague's greatest challenge is to see his plan through to successful completion without becoming the very enemy he has vowed to destroy. Short stories "Lipidleggin'" and "Ratman" are reprinted in this edition as well as an introduction by the author. "...both a philosophical tale and an action yarn, and the two are integrated naturally and well. Read it." -- Analog "Terrific!" -- Reason Magazine

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space, Space Opera

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Francis Paul Wilson is an author, born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He writes novels and short stories primarily in the science fiction and horror genres. His debut novel was Healer (1976). Wilson is also a part-time practicing family physician. He made his first sales in 1970 to Analog and continued to write science fiction throughout the seventies. In 1981 he ventured into the horror genre with the international bestseller, The Keep, and helped define the field throughout the rest of the decade. In the 1990s he became a true genre hopper, moving from science fiction to horror to medical thrillers and branching into interactive scripting for Disney Interactive and other multimedia companies. He, along with Matthew J. Costello, created and scripted FTL Newsfeed which ran daily on the Sci-Fi Channel from 1992-1996.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/fpaulw...

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 to 5.0 stars. An excellent and highly enjoyable read. I really liked the use of "economics" as the means to overthrow the hostile government and thought the characters were well drawn. An original story that was never boring and kept me interested throughout. Highly recommended.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of political and economic revolution set far in the future and far in space. There are some interesting ideas in this book, but the philosophy was not explored in a very complex way and there are a lot of assumptions and leaps neccesary to follow the progression. As a story goes it was all right, I didn't mind reading to the end; but overall it was didactic, with a lack of character developement. I found the characters cardboady, not necessarily behaving in a very human way. My final conclusion for this work is that the philosophy isn't developed enough for it to be truly worthwhile of itself and the story is too wooden to bring it to life.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up for free over a year ago and just now got around to reading it (my to-be-read pile on the Kindle is becoming quite large).

I use a modified version of the Baen criteria in judging science fiction: the technology and plot lines needs to be believable, you have to be able to relate to the characters, and if there are aliens don't gross me out or overly confuse me with strange names and abilities. This one hits meets all of my modified interpretation of the Baen criteria.

This book - while written a few decades ago - seems to have a lot of today's details involved with its plot: a government growing larger and larger, increasing unemployment, an ever-increasing public debt, and inflation growing unchecked. All combined with a growing discontent with the public and radical change being initiated.

I thought it was pretty good, and have the next one in the series but will wait a while to start it. While I picked it up for free, I think it is well worth the $2.99 Kindle price

[Ahw · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok.
I didn't really care about any of the characters. Stuff happened and I wanted to see what happened next and how it all wrapped up.
I enjoyed the economic lessons and the unique flavor for a revolution. It was very unique in that regard. But the "good guys" seemed far to omniscient and moral. I couldn't buy it. And I'm a card carrying Libertarian.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. At first I was very excited about the premise of this book. Although written a few years ago, the plot seems highly relevant today. A government that employs an easy money policy that could create the risk of hyper-inflation. Sound familiar? So, in that sense, the start to the book is really interesting.
The science fiction here is excellent. A couple of years ago, I read Asimov's "Foundation" series, which this book reminds me of, at least in its descriptions of the future world. Asimov, however, did not always execute, and some of the Foundation books were highly frustrating because of that. F. Paul Wilson strikes the right balance between describing the sci-fi and sticking to the plot, so the science fiction is there and contributes to the story, but does not overwhelm it.
Unfortunately, the story could use some overwhelming. It isn't all that good. It details the actions taken by reluctant revolutionary Peter LaNague, to overthrow the Imperium by peaceful, financial means. Again, a very interesting idea. But while the story moves along, it is somewhat pat and simplistic. Wilson seems more interested in advancing a libertarian agenda than in writing a really gripping story.
The ideology that is very much in the forefront detracts from the book rather than adding to it, because it is very simplistic. Yes, a world in which everyone lives by their wits and is self-reliant would be wonderful, but life, unfortunately, is not that simple. Wilson offers simple solutions to complex societal problems, and the solutions don't ring true. For what it's worth, I tend to agree with his point of view, but Wilson's lack of depth in presenting how his "anarcho-capitalist" ideas would work in real life. Perhaps he should have stuck to writing really fun books, but at the same time, I applaud the effort to introduce some ideas into the plot. It just didn't work for me.

[Kallierose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember how I came across this book - I think it was mentioned on one of Kindle's lists or something. Anyway, I thought it might be interesting, but didn't have high hopes. It was sci-fi, but the plot outline didn't really grab me.

I read about 10% and I was hooked. The author's style was simple and easy to follow, the characters interesting, and their motivations made sense and were often surprising. I also like that although this was one of many books in the series, the ending was such that I felt that nothing was unfinished or lacking.

Anyway, the author has written many more books, both in this "world" and others, and I will definitely be checking them out. How could I have never heard of him before??

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Enemy of the State is an excellent science fiction book written from a libertarian viewpoint. It tells the very compelling store of a future "Robin Hood" who uses all available peaceful means to end the galactic empire. This book is well written with very exciting characters and story. Understand austrian economics better as it is practically applied to the economics of a future human society.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It explores a many-planets totalitarian state (the Imperium) in its natural state of collapse, and how one man, with the help of a very small group of others, plays Robin Hood to speed up that collapse. In the process, that man begins to become somewhat like the oppressive rulers of the Imperium, as others question his decisions and threaten to attempt to bring on the revolution their way instead of his way. Very interesting and thought-provoking.

[Beth Tidman · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a bit of a slow start this became a real page turner for me. Sci fi is not one of my favorite genres, but F. Paul Wilson is one of my favorite authors. This book did not disappoint and the rest of the series is now on my to read list.

Peter LaNague sets out to bring about the downfall of the Imperium government using economics instead of violence.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this saga!!!!!! It's one of those books you wish would never end! I found this author from reading other authors JA Konrath likes to read and coauthor with, and I'm glad I did! Although this is a sort of sci fi........ it's way too close to how our world and especially our country runs! Great read and I highly recommend it!

[Robert Guernsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

F Paul Wilson has always been a favorite author

This book stands the test of time and is still a great read. I strongly recommend these books as a fun adventure on the first read and and interesting philosophy on the second read.

[Gilliam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too didactic for my taste and the quality of the writing is wanting.

[14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, prophetic, and just plain intriguing.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. As a libertarian I really wanted to like this, but ultimately I found the revolution plot terribly naive, and more importantly just not very interesting.

[Paul Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time the out-worlds were ruled from Earth, but that changed many years ago. In its place is the Imperium, a giant government machine that over the last couple of hundred years has become almost a replica of the hated Earth government that it replaced.

Peter LaNague is an enemy of the state; a revolutionary. This revolution though will be different from most as it is based entirely on economics. Planned and refined over decades, and with the resources of two non-Imperium planets behind it, the plan is sure to succeed - but men and computers and simulations can't predict everything - can they?

Written over 30 years ago and set in a far (but unspecified) distant future, this novel is probably more relevant today than it has ever been. The economic crisis and the huge top heavy government machine described in the story have quite clear parallels today.

Technology very much takes a back seat in this book, as it mainly deals with people and economics, but one prediction did stand out to me - the book makes an almost perfect prediction of GPS assisted Augmented Reality.

The characters are one dimensional and the philosophical ideas are not explored in depth, but the book is still worth reading. The book has a great premise and it is reasonably well-executed. I like that our revolutionary knows the Imperium maintains its power though economic power and turns its tools of control against them. It is a brilliant idea and one we almost never see in science fiction.

At the end of the story there are also two bonus short stories also set in the world of the LaNague Federation. "Ratman" is a short story about a pest controller who uses space-rats to catch other rats. "Lipidleggin" is a short story about bootleg milk and eggs in a society where health concerns about what you eat have gone slightly too far! These are both fun little stories and actually relate to the main story (this is explained in the preface to the main story).

[Jonah · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I didn't know this had been written by Wilson in 1980, I'd suspect it was a collaboration from a couple of guys at the Mises Institute for the purpose of giving the general public a more accessible introduction to their beliefs.

Here's another morality play that I found more entertaining:

Gen. Lecoq : Now men, because you are all getting a three-day furlough before going into battle, we would like to show you this little hygiene play.

[the actors step forward and the play begins]

Woman: Goodbye. I hope you had a good time.

Soldier : I did. I had a good time. Oh, what's this sore on my lip? I better see the doctor.

[He steps to his right and another actor stands up]

Soldier : Doc, I have this sore on my lip.

Doctor : You have a social disease, my friend.

Soldier : Oh my God!

Doctor : If you do not treat it, you will go blind... or insane!

[Applause]

Gen. Lecoq : Well men, that is the end of the play. Have a good time on your furlough and take care of yourselves.

Soldier : Well, what did you think of the play?

Boris : Oh, it was weak. I was never interested. Although the part of the doctor was played with gusto and verve and the girl had a delightful cameo role. A puckish satire of contemporary mores. A droll spoof aimed more at the heart than the head.

Soldier : As for me I'm planning to spend the next three days in a brothel. Care to come with me?

Boris : No, I went to a brothel once in my life. I got hiccups you know, it was over like that.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

Didn't suck, but wasn't great. $1.20 at the used book store, and now it's going right back to them, where I hope to get $0.60 for it. Maybe that's all the review you need.

The premise is interesting, but not new or unique: Earth expands and colonizes space. Those planets throw off Mother Earth's economic shackles and form their own Imperial Empire. Over time that Imperium rots - it grows to the point where the business of the empire is simply funding and keeping the empire in business, through inflation and creating economic dependencies on the empire by the poor and the loss of liberties and privacy through electronic commerce and digital currency.

(Right about here you're clearly seeing the American journey from 1776 to today, with some alarm since this was prophetically written back in the 1980's.)

However, the plot is thin, the character development is nil, and the overall writing while not weak, is not strong. There's no real dynamic interplay between characters and that makes for a very stilted narrative. I'm given to understand that there may be more related books of "the LaNague Federation", but there's a deep void of missing backstory and character context in this book to such a degree that I'm not inclined to read any that follow to find out more.

I'd advise you to PASS on this one.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting intergalactic political drama, and how to separate planets (and the people who live on them) from it’s oppressive domination.

This is one of F Paul Wilson’s earliest novels. His Repairman Jack novels are definitely more entertaining.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really well-written yarn in the Wilson tradition but DNF @ 40% due the subject matter being of zero interest to me.

[Bent Andreassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather good read, but I think 'Wheels Within Wheels' is a better novel. Give it 4 minus.

[Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I wish everyone would read. The foolish government policies in this novel seem prophetic to what is happening with our current statist regime.

[Goodi]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress if Heinlein had read Hoppe first.

[Drooglord · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think you have to be a libertarian to like this book, but it helps. F. Paul Wilson is best known for his horror fiction, particularly his bestselling vampires-among-the-Nazis, The Keep. I rather enjoyed that pot-boiler, but I like his LaNague novels much more--but then I am a libertarian. This first of the LaNague books deals with a favorite theme of science fiction--a interstellar empire. Peter LaNague isn't trying to build one up or save the fragmenting pieces--he's trying to bring one down--and using the legend of Robin Hood to do it--oh, and manipulation of the money supply. There are faster-than-life ships and aliens and even time-travel tech, but above all really this is economic fiction as much or more as science fiction, and Wilson weaves in economic theory on monetary policy into this yarn. For all that I don't think it's overly didactic. There's plenty of action and intrigue, and maybe even a gentle rap at Atlas Shrugged--as when LaNague's wife discards his carefully reasoned and prepared speech for an emotional appeal. I found it fast reading and great fun--especially Peter's best friend, the potted plant Pierre. Yes, really.

[Pat Cummings]

Read This When the Price of Gold (and Gas, and Bread) Rises!

If you've ever found yourself dismissing the power of inflation to harm the quality of your life, Wilson's An Enemy of the State will provide a swift kick where it will do you the most good!

Peter LaNague, the enemy of the novel's title, takes the concept of Robin Hood to a new (an more accurate) level by exposing how state-driven inflation - the printing of money - drains value from currency. Simple examples of people coping with - or crumpling under - this change help to illuminate this vast theft of wealth from all. But it is the flyers dropped by the fictional revolutionary LaNague (nearly every chapter opens with one) that really lend power to that kick I mentioned.

As with almost all of Wilson's work, the story comes first. But underneath the story is a troubling economic truth difficult for non-economists to grasp. LaNague's flyers - and Wilson's novel - put easy-grip handles on it.

[David Teachout · Rating 3 out of 5]

A libertarian hero full of profound philosophy concerning the human condition and equal parts inability to understand that very same condition. What's truly fun about this story is how positively it speaks of freedom even as it drives home the point that such a philosophy doesn't understand human psychology. We are not rational creatures first, we are animals in need of safety first. Lanague figures this out but only after quite the journey to get there. The result is despair, but it didn't have to be if he'd just attempted to be more realistic than fantastical. Moving at an epic pace, this story is great for rooting for a hero that is more smarts than brawn.

[CK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: This isn't related to the movie by the same name.

I Really enjoyed this book - very simply written, interesting characters with a strong integration of economic themes (rabidly small government, individual freedom). This is a book that looks to instruct as well as entertain - and while I'm not sold on the economics (simplified libertarian) illustrated I appreciate the thought and passion.

[David Wogahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great combination of politics and scifi; its the book that introduced me to Wilson. It was also one of the early Kindle eBooks and was released with several chapters missing towards the end of the book. I happened to read an article about ebook errors and it referenced that this book was incomplete. I contacted Amazon (they never emailed me) and got the complete version. Even with that problem I still loved the book.

[Christina Cricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you think our government is doing a good job? This futuristic intergalactic novel about totalitarian government and a revolution, while written over 30 years ago, might give you a different perspective of current events. Or perhaps help reinforce the perspective you already have. Either way, it's a great read, highly recommended by me.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first foray into the mind of F. Paul Wilson. The title caught my attention for sure. How to take down an oppressive imperial state without firing a shot (or least not many...)? Economics, debase the money. How frail is the US war economy?