Agent of Entropy

by Martin Siegel

GAG (Gestalt And Grok) - the computer spread over Earth's largest city and ran the Universe. GAG selected Tweedledee politicos for Tweedledum plantes, clicked it approval for minor revolts, kept a sharp green eye out for Underground disasters light year away. GAG pleased Emperor Sadegg IX - for it left him free time for his consort Miss Deary. GAG pleased Agent Gym Stork - for he was paid well to scour space to feed its facts. Until GAG freaked out, the Universe ran down and Stork faced - midway in the carnival of his life - the first agonizing choice of his life...

Genres: Science Fiction

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Jim Conant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the jacket description, I had pretty low expectations for this book. Agent of Entropy? The Universe went bankrupt? Wild. The author has some talent and he does a good job taking us through some scenes. Early on the book feels pretty close to van Vogt or even Heinlein. However on the whole the plot is pretty disjointed and the book's finale is sketchy and rushed.

As for the cover description that is so fascinating and initially caught my attention, the explanation is that it really has nothing to do with the book. There's nothing about entropy or Stork working for "the universe." That's both relieving (since it pointed to a book that would most likely be unreadable) and distressing (since that was what caught my interest in the first place.)

In all fairness, this book deserves 2 stars, but since I had set the bar so low in my expectations, I am giving it a 3 for surprising readability.

[Christopher Schmoeckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agent of Entropy follows the journey of an empirical investigator whose cosmic trip calls into question blindly following the advancement of society, coming to realize the entropic nature of progress and finally accepting a life of rebirth & acceptance with love & nature.