SOLVED. Adult SciFi book series about young man, possibly an orphan, who eventually becomes leader of galaxy. [s]

[J]

I most recall the main character in the book describing how democracy/politics works and how the young man applied that knowledge to getting things accomplished. I recall this was a book series. Male author and wife were authors, but not necessarily the same genre. I think he wrote sci fi and she wrote historical fiction. I think they may have collaborated on a few books. For some reason, the name "Gere" is bouncing in my head, but I could be mistaken.

Update: it's not the couple Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W Michael Gear. So memory of author information is probably confused with this couple.

[Kris]

J, around what year did you read this book series?

Is this series for adults or teens?

Can you tell more about the main character(s) - e.g., ages, jobs, rich/poor, where they live, family/friends?

[J]

My memory is very vague. This was something I read 40+ years ago. I think the character was a young boy at the beginning of the series. It was on a planet, not earth. By the end of the series (5 volumes, maybe), he had become the galaxy leader, and that was on a different planet. I'm sorry, I don't really remember much more than the political discourse and it was quite expansive and well written. I recall that I wish they had taught it in school the way the author had explained it -- because I did not understand the government course I took in HS. I'm hazarding a guess I read this book in the 1970's though might have been 1980's. Definitely not later or earlier.

I have no idea who the intended audience was. In those days, I read every single book that came my way. But especially sci fi appealed to me in the 1970's.

[SamSpayedPI]

Probably not the Flinx series by Alan Dean Foster (beginning with The Tar-Aiym Krang) but I mention it just in case.

[beichst]

Another Alan Dean Foster book about an MC rising from the bottom of society to the pinnacle is The Man Who Used the Universe. It has been a while since I read it so don't recall if he was an orphan. But it would not surprise me.

He was also described as having an uncanny ability to anticipate and thus manipulate socio-political trends to his advantage.


"No one knows the true motives of Kees vaan Loo-Macklin. He's a mastermind criminal who gave up his place at the head of the dark underworld to become a legitimate member of Evenwaith's cities. But soon he was reaching out to powerful enemies--the slimy aliens called the Nuel. Loo-Macklin negotiates an illusory peace agreement and gains precious alien secrets in the process. Is he after peace, power or pure evil? With enemy starships beginning to amass, we won't have to wait long to find out."

[Juels]

Maybe the Belgariad and Malloreon series by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings? There are 5 books in each series. They are related series and the first book of the Malloreon picks up where the Belgariad left off. Originally, only David Eddings was credited as the author. Over the years, his wife Leigh did a lot of work with him and received credit on the new novels. Even if they are not your series, I highly recommend them. They center around the life of Garion who starts as a simple farm boy and later reaches a strong political status. There are other books that relate to these as well.

Belgariad:
Pawn of Prophecy
Queen of Sorcery
Magician's Gambit
Castle of Wizardry
Enchanters' End Game

Malloreon:
Guardians of the West
King of the Murgos
Demon Lord of Karanda
Sorceress of Darshiva
Seeress of Kell

[Andy]

Makes me think of "Bio of a Space Tyrant" series by Piers Anthony Bio of a Space Tyrant

[beichst]

@Andy. Yep. That was another one I was thinking of. The only reason I did not mention it was that series is all interplanetary within the Sol system. But, I agree. If the other series are not it. then worth a check.

[J]

Andy wrote: "Makes me think of "Bio of a Space Tyrant" series by Piers Anthony Bio of a Space Tyrant"

Yes, that's it! I just read the summary on Wikipedia. Thank you every so much.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Which book in the series would you like to shelve? If you're not sure which one you read, we shelve the first one.

[J]

I don't understand your question. I read the entire series at the time.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book series, J. We'll shelve the first book in the series (as opposed to a single-book collection) - as Lobstergirl mentions - Refugee by Piers Anthony.