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The Emancipator #3
The Orpheus Machine
On the embattled island cities of Sook, an alien-sponsored death cult lures humans into excruciating acts of suicide, and only the slave-born Ruiz Aw, the lone Emancipator, can help his fellow humans. Original.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2023
Really solid book/series by Aldridge! This review is for the entire book; as I mentioned in earlier reviews of the previous two installments, this is a publisher's trilogy, where one complete story was simply cut into three pieces.
Aldridge takes us on a rather wild romp here. Our main protagonist, Ruiz Aw, is an 'enforcer' or a 'slayer' who contracts with the Art League (a slaver organization) to do whatever necessary. Ruiz has been around a long time; you only really age in this universe if you have no money. While he was raised as a slave, Ruiz managed to escape the life and for a while worked with a free lance emancipator group until he fell in with the League.
There are many layers to this story. First, we have our classic tough guy protagonist on an adventure with all kinds of trials and tribulations, vicious enemies all around and always facing really long odds. We also have a budding romance between Ruiz and Nisa-- a 'primitive' from a slave planet. As this story revolves around slavery, we also have some speculations about that and what it means to be free.
This did remind me of Jack Vance, especially his Demon Princes series, which kicks off with The Star King. I also reminded me some of Jalk Chalker, especially with the possibility of mind transfer and such. All in all, pretty outstanding and I wish the author had written more. 4.5 for the series!
Aldridge takes us on a rather wild romp here. Our main protagonist, Ruiz Aw, is an 'enforcer' or a 'slayer' who contracts with the Art League (a slaver organization) to do whatever necessary. Ruiz has been around a long time; you only really age in this universe if you have no money. While he was raised as a slave, Ruiz managed to escape the life and for a while worked with a free lance emancipator group until he fell in with the League.
There are many layers to this story. First, we have our classic tough guy protagonist on an adventure with all kinds of trials and tribulations, vicious enemies all around and always facing really long odds. We also have a budding romance between Ruiz and Nisa-- a 'primitive' from a slave planet. As this story revolves around slavery, we also have some speculations about that and what it means to be free.
This did remind me of Jack Vance, especially his Demon Princes series, which kicks off with The Star King. I also reminded me some of Jalk Chalker, especially with the possibility of mind transfer and such. All in all, pretty outstanding and I wish the author had written more. 4.5 for the series!
September 14, 2007
You must read book 1 &2 first, but I reread this series once every few years and it's STILL just as awesome. See review of book 1 "Pharoah Contract" for details.
November 3, 2016
In fact “Emancipator” is a one novel divided into 3 books. It could be a brilliant example of culmination in evolution of action SF sub-genre. Because the majority of action “space operas” that came after this novel looks very dumpy and unattractive.
The SF-action with classical elements like blasters, starships, alien-baddies and so on was founded by Van Vogt and Russell in the early 40-s and then came to its “golden age” in the 60-s with classical novels of Heinlein and Harrison. Then followed a “new wave” with Zelazny and others, but I suppose starting from that time there accrued a regress in action sub-genre.
“Emancipator” stands out against background of these dinosaurs of SF and looks very fresh and attractive. It took the best from both: classical “space opera” SF-action and deep philosophical “new wave”. I would say this one and the best novel of Ray Aldridge draw the line in the SF history between outstanding things and nowadays plagiary and secondary stuff. If you like SF, you definitely have to get yourself familiar with this thing.
The SF-action with classical elements like blasters, starships, alien-baddies and so on was founded by Van Vogt and Russell in the early 40-s and then came to its “golden age” in the 60-s with classical novels of Heinlein and Harrison. Then followed a “new wave” with Zelazny and others, but I suppose starting from that time there accrued a regress in action sub-genre.
“Emancipator” stands out against background of these dinosaurs of SF and looks very fresh and attractive. It took the best from both: classical “space opera” SF-action and deep philosophical “new wave”. I would say this one and the best novel of Ray Aldridge draw the line in the SF history between outstanding things and nowadays plagiary and secondary stuff. If you like SF, you definitely have to get yourself familiar with this thing.
April 3, 2021
V třetí části je Aldridge velmi blízký Dilvermoonu. Barvitost akce a prostředí je takřka Jack Vancovita... modří vědí. Zabavny konec. Kupodivu i Aldrisgeovy literarni činnosti.
June 3, 2013
немного надоели постоянные однообразные приключения Руиза.. А так - хороший конец :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews