The Long Result (Ballantine SF, U2329)

THE LONG RESULT In an advanced society racism rears its ugly head and alien visitors are the targets. Who are the conspirators and why the hatred? John Brunner weaves a terrific tale; he manages to capture the reader's attention with his subtle yet potent prose. The book's ebb and flow rides on a undercurrent of social unrest. Starhome is a space colony formed by earth. Space colonies are expected to be just that; a space colony. Starhome is much more. Looking to break away from earth and form a separate nation in space, Starhome concocts a plan to disrupt the peace of earth: The Stars Are For Man League. The League is a front to keep the politicians busy while Starhome prepares to ask for its freedom. This was a terrific book and a book, which tackles the subject of racism and hatred. John Brunner wrote this book in 1965, so some of the science and technology are dated but the subject remains fresh and relevant. I highly recommend this book.

The Long Result is set in the mid-distant future, with aliens contacted and earth having one government and two colonies. The hero, Roald Vincent, is a foreign affairs / state department official who is investigating a sudden resurgence in inter-species hatred - at the same time as wrestling with personal problems. The fanatical Stars are for Man League is trying to destroy the good relations between humanity and other species. This is straightforward Brunner, without the parallel plots of his more complex novels, but it is a great adventure story, with some suprising twists. There are some slightly odd plot inconsistenices, but I have probably only noticed them because I re-read the book so often!