SOLVED. SciFi novel set on interstellar trading outpost, probably named "Prime Factor" -- looking for author, publisher, and year. [s]

[Robert]

Sometime in the 1990s I read an excellent mass market paperback science fiction novel set on a distant interstellar outpost (think: Deep Space Nine, but without the nearby planet, and darker, grungier). Entertainment for space travellers is one of the main functions of the station, as well as secure storage of trade goods. The protagonist is a male trader, a "factor" -- a person who acts or transacts business for another, that is: an agent entrusted with the possession of goods to be sold in the agent's name; a merchant earning a commission by selling goods belonging to others. Hence, the name of the book, as I remember it, was "Prime Factor." But I cannot find any book by this title on any Internet search. The paperback was not particularly old when I read it in the 90s, and certainly was not from the classic days of science fiction, i.e., the 50s and 60s. It had more modern tropes. The setting is in very remote space, beyond the reaches of interstellar empires. There is a sense of lawlessness about the place. Background stories involve imperial political conflicts, and a side story was developing about a rogue artificial intelligence that is gobbling up inhabited planets. The mood of the story and setting is very dark, dangerous, and cynical, with just enough law to keep monetary negotiations on contract. The trader travels solo in his own spaceship, if I remember correctly. I am looking for the author's name, the publisher, and the date of publication. I have already used Goodreads' search function to search all genres for either "Prime" or "Factor" as a word in the title. The author is not a famous science fiction writer. The book may have a sequel, as some of the larger background subplots seemed unfinished at the end.

[Kris]

Older comments for this thread -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Shanna_redwind]

Interested in reading this

[Ayshe]

Random Factor by Joel Henry Sherman has been suggested on scifi.stackexchange.com

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Combining threads.

In December 2016 Kris suggested On Basilisk Station and "Something by Poul Anderson like Trader to the Stars (with merchant-adventurers)?"

and asked "Any memories of the main character - male/female, job/military, etc.?"

Robert responded, "Thank you, Kris, for helping out. I believe I have the title correct, but am dealing with an out-of-print PB from the days before the Internet was full on. I want to know the author, publisher, and date of publication, possibly between 1965 and 1995."

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Robert, was your book "Random Factor" as suggested by Ayshe?

[Robert]

Ayshe wrote: "Random Factor by Joel Henry Sherman has been suggested on scifi.stackexchange.com"
I haven't been on here in over a year. "Random Factor" may be the correct title. I am going to order it on Amazon today. If it is correct I will post a "SOLVED" reply.

[Robert]

Thank you, Ayshe, for the suggestion, and Lobstergirl for the reminder.
I ordered the book on Amazon and it arrived today. "Random Factor" is indeed the correct title.
This excellent scifi novel is by Joel Henry Sherman (New York: Ballantine Book/Del Rey, 1991).
Recommended!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Great.

[Aerulan]

Thanks for coming back to confirm Robert! This sounds well worth picking up, I'll have to keep an eye out for it.