The Merchant Prince

I admit, it's been a long time since I've picked up a science fiction book with the intent of reading it. I've been disenfranchised with the entire genre as a whole since I tried stomaching a few bad novels. But, lo and behold, this one made me sit up and take note! There is hope yet!This novel in particular I was pleased with because of its historical accuracy to the Renaissance period while being unafraid to drop in a bit of alien involvement here and there. The main character, John Dee, is also particularly endearing. While he's easily recognizable as the protagonist and the one who is supposed to "save the world" (such as it is) he's still a bit of a scoundrel and a villain. I would, without a doubt, recommend this novel.

Co-authors Armin Shimmerman and Michael Scott have done an *excellent* job in creating a believable, though often bleak, view of Earth's near future. This is good, solid science fiction, with aliens, advanced technology, societal commentary, the threatened end of the world as we know it -- all the best SF elements. Better still, the characters and dialogue are *fantastic* -- especially the hero, Dr. John Dee. An incredibly complex person, admirable yet by no means a saint, strong and self-sufficient yet sympathetic. The supporting characters are also intriguing and well developed. If this could be a series of novels, I'd love to see and learn more of Dr. Dee... on the other hand, after his amazing feats of derring-do in this book, any further adventures would run the risk of feeling anti-climactic! The "Star Trek" references scattered here and there through the story are certainly fun -- but you don't have to like "Trek" to appreciate this book. It's a though-provoking, self-contained story in the best traditions of classic SF -- and Dee is a unique, exciting hero. Don't miss this one!

I think this book is the best I've read in a longtime. Fans of Armin Shimerman will love this. It is his first I've read outside of his Startrek books, but it won't be the last!

Stripped down to essentials, the plot is the basic "hero must save the earth." However, it's well embellished with a fast paced narrative and enough twists and turns to hold my interest throughout the book.The main character, Dr. John Dee (who bears at least a passing resemblance to Armin Shimerman's "Deep Space Nine" character, Quark)is very much a Renaissance man--alchemist, astronomer, mathematician and spy--and he's not averse to taking a profit on the side. When Marie de Medici imprisons him in 1575 he is saved by an alien benefactor, Dyckon. Dyckon is a member of a long-lived alien race, the Roc, that has come to observe the evolution of humans. Saving Dee, though, is in direct defiance of regulations prohibiting contact between the Roc and the humans. Dyckon has no real idea what to do with Dee and places him in suspended animation. As Dyckon's career progresses, though, the evidence of his past indiscretion becomes too great a political liability and he resolves to dispose of Dee. Instead of simply killing Dee, though, Dyckon first revives him and Dee persuades Dyckon to release him on earth. Despite the passing of years (it's now 2099), Dee is certain that human nature will not have changed and his survival skills will serve him as well in the twilight of the 21st century as they did in the 16th century. The catch, though, is that the earth is headed toward either annihilation or slavery within the next two years. If Dee can't avert the disaster, he will share that fate. The final two-thirds of the book detail his efforts to defeat Royal Newton, whose attempts to develop an energy source using anti-matter give rise to the impending disaster.I found Dr. Dee to be an enjoyable character--like Quark, he's something of a good-hearted scoundrel. While he always strives to advance his own interests, he's loyal to his Queen and his friends. He's self-confident, observant and clever, a quick study, but when faced with a situation from which he cannot extricate himself by his wits alone, he kills efficiently, without hesitation or remorse. Royal Newton, on the other hand, is greedy, arrogant, and abusive to his subordinates. However, he's not a madman, intent on destruction--he genuinely believes he's developing a power source which will make him wealthy, not a weapon which will destroy his world. It's measure of his arrogance that he never gives serious consideration to the possibility of destruction. (Or perhaps it's a measure of his lack of complexity--but this story is driven more by plot than character.)Although I did enjoy the book, it felt a bit like it had been rushed into publication. There were several minor inconsistencies--a creature that's hatched rather than born reminiscing about his birth mother; a facility in Puerto Rico is attacked and Newton starts talking to his security chief about insurgents in Costa Rica; Newton's grandfather, R R Newton was born in "abject poverty," but