Code Duello

United Planets #4

by Mack Reynolds

Section G, the top-secret security unit of United Planets, had a special problem on their hands wit the situation on Firenze. And for that special problem, they gathered together the most unusual squad in Section G's unusual history. It included: A research biologist who could bend steel bars like rubber bands A middle-aged lady with total total recall An interplanetary cowboy whose bullwhip was deadlier than a ray gun A brazen young lady acrobat who looked like an eight-year-old kid A mild young man who never lost a bet in his life And the best pickpocket that ever lived. But Firenze with its CODE DUELLO was to prove a match for the lot of them!

Genres: Science Fiction

141 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Dallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds was an American science fiction writer. His pen names included Clark Collins, Mark Mallory, Guy McCord, Dallas Ross and Maxine Reynolds. Many of his stories were published in "Galaxy Magazine" and "Worlds of If Magazine". He was quite popular in the 1960s, but most of his work subsequently went out of print.

He was an active supporter of the Socialist Labor Party; his father, Verne Reynolds, was twice the SLP's Presidential candidate, in 1928 and 1932. Many of MR's stories use SLP jargon such as 'Industrial Feudalism' and most deal with economic issues in some way

Many of Reynolds' stories took place in Utopian societies, and many of which fulfilled L. L. Zamenhof's dream of Esperanto used worldwide as a universal second language. His novels predicted much that has come to pass, including pocket computers and a world-wide computer network with information available at one's fingertips.

Many of his novels were written within the context of a highly mobile society in which few people maintained a fixed residence, leading to "mobile voting" laws which allowed someone living out of the equivalent of a motor home to vote when and where they chose.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable fast read by one of the more popular authors in the SF mags in the 50s and 60s, Dallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds (1917-1983). It's basically a detective story set on another planet in the far future. Part of his United Planets series, it's about a team of "super talents" sent by Section G to a planet settled by Italian colonists (named "Firenze"). Section G's purpose is to help planets achieve progress through covert action (!). But, it quickly becomes evident in this story that the team is on the wrong track on this mission....Mack wrote this series with tongue firmly in cheek and, as I said, I found it enjoyable. Unfortunately, Mack Reynolds has become something of a forgotten author, but for a true SF fan, he's worth finding and reading...

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A section G adventure. We have a couple of talented people going to the planet Firrence. A planet with ancient code of honour. You end up being forced to a duel when you insult someone. And they are easily insulted. One guy is incredibly lucky, one a strong man and gifted scientist a guy with a whip called Zorro and a young lady called Hellen who is in her mid-twenties but look eight. And plays the character, a doll called Gertrude included.
On the planet, there is an underground organization called the Engelist movement who try to overcome the democratic regime. Only it is not really democratic. There are only pseudo-elections and 9 of the 10 signores who rule are only for internal peace. Secret agencies and police. Of course, there is not really a secret organisation, it is all made up the froze power. Well, there is a one-man opposition. Not so very interesting.
As always some interesting allusions to old history. Although quite strange why our heroes do not know what Grand Central Station is but can quote long speeches of unknown conquistadores. Well. Nice anyway.