Greenthieves

by Alan Dean Foster

When a shipment of high-tech pharmaceuticals is stolen from a supposedly impenetrable metal shed that was heavily monitored, Detective Manz and his two robot assistants are assigned the difficult case

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

248 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Bestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.

Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.

Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.

Reviews

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Broderick Manz is an insurance adjuster who's just been assigned to a particularly tricky case. Although the security measures are thorough and should be impregnable, three shipments of expensive pharmaceuticals have somehow been stolen. While he was being given a tour of the security for a fourth pharmaceutical shipment, that was stolen as well. How had the thieves managed to nab the drugs right from under his nose, from a completely sealed and airless room? As he, his beautiful colleague Vyra, his humaniform Moses, and his AI Minder investigate, the case rapidly becomes more than just theft - whoever's doing all of this isn't above committing murder as well.

I was in the mood for a fast-paced sci-fi thriller/mystery. Unfortunately, even though that's basically what this was, it still didn't quite hit the spot. Manz didn't particularly appeal to me, Vyra was basically just there to be sexy and occasionally blow stuff up, and Moses was downright gross. I'm sure Foster intended Moses's habit of chasing, pinching, and offering to have sex with women to be funny, but the humor didn't work for me at all, and some of what Moses did crossed the line into creepy.

I suspect that the Minder's habit of breaking the fourth wall to address the reader and say everything its programming wouldn't allow it to tell Manz was also intended to be funny. I was okay with this, at first, but after a while the constant stream of insults (towards Manz, Moses, all of humanity, and even the reader) got really, really old.

The story was less a mystery and more a thriller. Lots of people being assassinated, a little bit of sneaking around and spying. The solution to how the thefts were being carried out and who was doing it should have been more exciting, and yet it just felt like another thing thrown into the plot.

All in all, not as much fun as I was hoping it would be.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

One should probably never judge an author by a media adaptation, whether film, television series, or game (digital or table-top). Yet, I am afraid that I misjudged Alan Dean Foster on the basis of an adaptation. I was so disappointed that I avoided his novels for decades. Then, my brother sent me a treasure trove of books. Greenthieves was in that collection. I chuckled a bit, wondering what kind of far-future crime caper would be entitled with a pun referring to a camp follower of folk song fame. To my delight, it had nothing to do with the camp follower of yore or, beyond sounding like the familiar folk song’s title, anything to do with the song. For a time, I thought the green merely represented money. But, ah, the title was much more appropriate than that, as I hope readers of this review might discover for themselves.

The protagonist of Greenthieves is an “insurance adjuster” named Broderick Manz. He seems to be a futuristic Johnny Dollar (sorry for those who don’t know the old radio program reference—he was an insurance investigator and told his stories via his expense account) only he has more resources than an expense account at his disposal. Long before the current panic about artificial intelligence (which is both reasonable in some ways and unreasonable in the way the media portrays it), one of his resources is an AI contained in a floating orb (strangely foreshadowing Jim Butcher’s “Bob,” the spirit contained in a human skull, in his The Dresden Files series). The relevance to the current AI controversy is that this AI has a superiority complex and constantly belittles the fictional humans and breaks the fourth wall to demean the reader, as well.

His other assistant, at least of the AI variety, is a humanical (AI-equipped “robotic” entity) named Moses. When we first meet him in the hallway of the insurance company, I thought he was going to be a Kato to an Inspector Clouseau-type investigator. Fortunately, that didn’t prove to be the case. Despite his moniker, Moses doesn’t perform any miracles and the closest thing to parting a Reed Sea that he performs is a technical violation of Asimov’s Laws when he conveniently bumps into antagonists and “inadvertently” (at least, that’s his story and he’s sticking to it) knocks them out of the fight. Also, depending on one’s sensitivities, Moses is either funny (as one was supposed to take the lecherous assistant district attorney on the old television series, Night Court--Dan Fielding) or disgusting (as one would occasionally feel when Foster describes Moses’ outrageous behavior) as he conducts what he calls “experiments” to determine human reactions.

In this particular case, the mysterious disappearing pharmaceutical shipments from locked, alarmed, and containers surrounded by a vacuum, are challenging enough that Manz is assisted by an exotic, sexy, off-world (alien) agent named Vyra (since I keep comparing this to outdated media references, she seems most like Mrs. Peel in The Avengers television show which had nothing to do with Marvel Comics). Alas, Foster doesn’t use her as formidably as Mr. Steed used Mrs. Peel. However, there is one incident in which her off-world origin (and biology) proves intriguing.

I may be getting dense in my old age, but I didn’t figure out what was going on until very late in the book. Yet, when the revelation came (at least, I figured it out before Manz), it was satisfying on multiple levels (including the significance of the title and the “Rosebud”-like last word of one of the characters). In a real sense, Greenthieves was significantly more enjoyable than I expected and will ensure that I won’t continue in my irrational avoidance of Foster’s work.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library sale and thoroughly ejoyed it. It's a SF mystery crime thriller - something for everyone.

Broderick Manz is an Insurance Adjuster and he is sent to investigate the theft of priceless pharmaceuticals from one of his clients. These drugs were stolen from a locked and impregnable room, and the local police are baffled. So Broderick and his assorted colleagues must find out what is going on before the criminals get the upper hand.

This is fast-paced and, even though the ending is kind of given away in the title, the whys and wherefores keep you guessing.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as engaging as Foster's Commonwealth stories, but still a fun, fast-paced, old-fashioned sf adventure. The type-set/lay-out isn't well done so it's difficult to keep track of the story at times, but that's a minor quibble and doesn't relate to the story. It reminded me a bit of Timothy Zahn's rails-across-the-galaxy mysteries.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Greenthieves" by Alan Dean Foster is a decent sci-fi mystery, heavily influenced by the works of Isaac Asimov. The human-robot interactions are humorous. Not the best by the prolific and hit-or-miss Foster, but certainly not his worst either.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the 1990s, I read some Alan Dean Foster. He wasn't a regular read, but I'd pick one up every so often. I liked the IDEA of ADF's work more than I actually liked the books, I think.

This book reminds me why I wasn't a more regular fan of his work.

There's a neat idea at the core of this book. Unfortunately, it's wrapped in a lot of rigamarole, and the interesting bit doesn't happen until the book's almost done.

My main complaint is that the main character has a personal recording device that contains AI. This AI talks to the reader directly in passages throughout the book. And that AI is incredibly annoying. It hates people, and continually belittles humans and the reader for page after page after page. It starts off the book explaining how dumb people are, it ends the book with how dumb people are, and in between, it spends roughly one of every five pages telling the reader the characters are stupid, and the reader is stupid for reading about them.

It feels like ADF is berating the reader, like he has a real problem with people who read his books and this is his way of excoriating them.

Not only does it not add to the story, it slows it down. And it's not a speedy story to begin with. This plot was really more of a short story, and ADF has dragged it out into a novel-length by padding it out with the horrible AI narrator and lots of unnecessary side bits that don't add to the story.

In fact, there are some side elements that are MORE interesting than the story. There's a robot who's supposedly bound by Asimov's laws, but which demonstrates multiple times that it has found a way to circumvent its directives. There's a really interesting story in there. But it's almost totally unaddressed in the actual story.

Instead, there's a running thread about how that same robot is being a sex pest to women.

Now, the book was published in 1994, and we've come a long way since then, so that might have been considered humor at the time. But it's really just creepy, and - again - does nothing to advance the story.

Similarly, the AI that rails at the reader throughout the book is programmed so that it is only supposed to be able to record the MC's actions and provide a wikipedia-like interface for information retrieval. Its owner has no clue that this AI has a personality, and it follows its programming except for literally ONE tiny hint that there might be more going on with it that comes up near the end of the story.

There's an interesting story about robots achieving self-sufficiency and sentience hidden in the background details of this book. That's the story I wish I'd read.

Instead, we get a pretty tired neo-noir detective story set in a future that looks depressingly like the 1990s, but with space travel. Most of the story takes place at a hotel and a spaceport. And yet, there are tantalizing tidbits about other planets that have been colonized, and have faced difficulties aplenty, and that have developed not only their own cultures, but it's even implied that they've experienced genetic drift from the original human pattern. There are stories aplenty hidden in these details. But not a one of them is explored.

So overall, this one felt more like a tease and a waste of time than an enjoyable sci Fi story, or even a trip down memory lane.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main plot of this one drags from time to time. The initial story is interesting enough as well as its resolution, but there were times that the story just seemed to drag. The thing that kept me going was the "breaking of the third wall" where a minor robotic character takes time to disparage pretty much everything human in very humorous speeches directed at the reader.

I'll be careful not to spoil this one, except to tell you that the title is appropriate. Our hero is an insurance investigator sent to help figure out how pharmaceutical shipments to settlements in space are being hijacked. Regardless of the security, guards, etc, the goods have been stolen repeatedly,

Along with our hero, and providing both support and comedic relief, are two robotic types. One is a humanoid type with a wheel instead of feet and the other is a small sphere that typically floats over the shoulder of the hero and acts as a personal assistant. The humanoid robot is conducting experiments to try to comprehend human sexual interaction, which often end in awkward moments which get him threatened with a mind wipe.

The Science Fiction gadgets are interesting, but the novel is just a little too long so that it drags from time to time. The bad guy is interesting enough and his evil plot is too slowly revealed. The ending seems rushed, but that's the best I can say for it.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn’t read like any Alan Dean Foster book I’ve read previously.

If this is truly his work, he managed to get into his own way with the constant harping of the A.I. in the book. And I hope no one missed the intent of the creator to equate the plants to A.I. separate from each other and how quickly they can communicate.

This reads to me exactly how other A.I. written works appear. They either subtly or blatantly compare humans to organic stupidity. This story was blatant.

It’s the least liked of all the books that beat his name. Most others are above five stars. There was very little substance to this book, and for the first time ever I don’t t recommend a story credited to him. That it’s a freebie offered on Kindle doesn’t surprise me.

Very unhappy I read this! Bcuz I don’t believe this is his writing, tho I can see it being his premise, but A.I. took it and slaughtered it.

It strikes me these companies selling the real works of writers, are making bundles of money thru Kindle.

The prices they charge for the download of a single story is disgusting as well as sad.

[Kaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little isolated novel. I really enjoy how ADF created these little contained stories that have such deep lore, characters and settings and he’s seemingly done it 1000 times. This was a little mystery heist whodunnit setup and it worked well for the most part. I really enjoyed the cutaways to the robots, there was a lot of modernity pertinent AI and robot talk here as well. I thought our main characters were a little lame and there was a large section in the early middle that dragged to the extreme. However, once we get towards the back half it got fun and exciting and I like how the mystery turned out. I wouldn’t be pounding on the table to recommend it to anyone but if you want a goofy and fun little self contained whodunnit mystery in a sci-fi setting, this certainly won’t waste your time.

[Gordon Popular · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a twofer, you get a sci fi and a mystery plus two snarky robots. This takes place along the El Paso and Mexican border industrial belt which seems to be a favorite for Foster. If you can solve the mystery before the end then you're a better sleuth than me. There is a really good snarky remake by one of the robots about humans on page 220. This is a really good and fun book to read. Recommended.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broderick Manz, an insurance investigator is called in when expensive pharmaceuticals mysteriously go missing. He is accompanied by his beautiful colleague Vyra, his AI minder and a maniform Moses.

The system seems foolproof, in fact, Manz and Vyra are in attendance when a shipment arrives and is stolen right under their noses. Their investigation is fulsome but nothing obvious comes up.

We are also entertained by the musings of the maniform and minder who seem to view the humans as something less than intelligent. Funny at times and always sarcastic.

A light reintroduction for me to sci-fi. It's been a long time.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Locked door mystery combined with science fiction, dictated by robotic "monitor".
Staring Broderick Manz, insurance investigator.
very amusing.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

sarkastisch, lustig und en coole plottwist am end

[Matthew Spencer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having finally secured a long needed vacation I decided to read the ultimate beach read: random sci Fi that I picked up used for $1. This may have backfired, because I have read few books more themeless, derivative and meandering. This could qualify for a two star rating -- it is readable and may have been fun at the time -- but I can't think of a good reason to go to the trouble over a half dozen better genre entries.

Broderick Manz is private security for an insurance company in a modestly dystopian future. He is assisted by two robots and one seductive offworlder as he attempts to solve the perfect crime: slipping drugs out of a garden shed. Because everyone is a moron, this takes 250 pages and gyrates between nonsensical action scenes.

The 1990s were a different era, so Foster earns some leeway here, but the book's treatment of gender was the first thing that jumped out at me. The are two female characters, both there mostly as sex objects for the protagonist or the audience to ogle. One of the hero's robot sidekicks also sexually harasses women for fun, and this is played off as a comedic subplot.

Speaking of the robots, they're the only characters with discernable character traits. Foster seems oddly fond of them, and one gets to make most of the interesting decisions and actions in the book, largely by flaunting some implied Asimov laws that govern his compatriots. The other only exists to break the fourth wall by intermittently berating the reader. These asides are not funny, insightful or necessary.

The language is comically overwrought, which undercuts characterization constantly. The protagonist is pitched to the reader as a hyper masculine, snarling, man of few words. He also says, among other flowery soliloquies, "Nothing more antisocial than the commercial equivalent of an overdue library fine" and, "repeated unsolvable thefts brazenly conducted within one's jurisdiction can put abnormal pressure on an officer of the law."

It also doesn't help that all of the main characters are idiots. They screw up heists and interrogations, ignore warnings about attempts in their life, fail to implement basic security measures (hiding the goods somewhere else, pointing a camera at the intrusion point, sending some false information to flush out the moles, ...), and stumble to victory largely through contrivance and diligent work by a secondary character. There's little to root for among the main cast. (The supporting cast is more colorful, but they appear and disappear, often leaving plot threads dangling.)

Finally, the theme here is inscrutable. The endless ramblings of the robots, and their central place in the action, suggests that this is about man's relation to technology or human kinds follies. But those themes never play or in the main plot beats, which are all crunchy action scenes driven by criminal greed. It's a mess.

My most charitable interpretation is that noir crime drama is a poor match for Foster's sensibilities, which seem more Red Dwarf than The Expanse. There is a germ of a fun novella in here if you cut the book down to just the heist, which had the potential to be a fun puzzle. But I recommend Altered Carbon, Neuromancer, All Systems Red, The Gone World, Recursion and I'm sure many others over this.

[Vomithatsteve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vomithatsteve
This is one of the worst books I've ever read.
It combines the worst tropes of science fiction ("turns out there's a magic piece of technology that solves everything")
and the worst tropes of mystery novels ("let's introduce a new character within the last 5 pages; that's the antagonist, turns out!")

SPOILER:
It's a sci-fi mystery heist book. In the last chapter, it turns out that the heist was pulled off by an alien race that had never been mentioned before using technology that they had explicitly said doesn't exist.

[Igy The Book Hermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny.