Operation Misfit

Operation #1

by E. Hoffmann Price

Del Rey / Ballantine, 1980. First in the four-book series of science fiction novels. The other titles “Operation Longlife” (1983); “Operation Exile” (1986); “Operation Isis” (1987).

Price was known for his Lovecraft inspired stories in his early career. After a long break he began writing again in the 1980's. Some readers may enjoy this novel for its anti-hero rebelling against a corrupt government, space travel, and intrigue. The political views, racism and sexism have not aged very well.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

283 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 12, 1980

About the author

Originally intending to be a career soldier, Price graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point; he served in the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, and with the American military in Mexico and the Philippines. He was a champion fencer and boxer, an amateur Orientalist, and a student of the Arabic language; science-fiction author Jack Williamson, in his 1984 autobiography Wonder's Child, called E. Hoffmann Price a "real live soldier of fortune."

In his literary career, Hoffmann Price produced fiction for a wide range of publications, from Argosy to Terror Tales, from Speed Detective to Spicy Mystery Stories. Yet he was most readily identified as a Weird Tales writer, one of the group who wrote regularly for editor Farnsworth Wright, a group that included Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith. Price published 24 solo stories in "the Unique Magazine" between 1925 and 1950, plus three collaborations with Otis Adelbert Kline, and his works with Lovecraft.

Reviews

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took a long time to get through the first 75 pages or so. Slightly more interesting after that, but I've read too many better space operas to be interested by this one.

[S.j. Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This old novel had all the bones to be a really great story. A playboy anti-hero rebelling against a corrupt government, space travel, exciting intrigue. And yet, the whole book is a steaming pile of sexist, racist crap. Published in 1980, the feel of the story seems as if it were written in the 50s. Women are either wives or whores. Men are horny jerks. The government has promoted what is known as a 'plastic society', people do, think and believe what they are told. If you veer into free thought, you are locked up. Even if I give the author slack for having written this story in a different time, it still lacks any qualities that make up for the awful racial slurs and disgusting sexism. Also, many of the sub plots are ridiculous and poorly paced. Sadly, the best part of this book is the cover art.

[brian dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed some light reading to get me through Lunar New Year with the in-laws. This fit the bill exactly. I remember loving the story twenty or (gulp) thirty years ago and saw that it, and its sequels, are now available as ebooks.

Part of what makes the book interesting is the background of the writer. Price seems to have been a poor-man's Burton, a soldier of fortune who spent a lot of time in the East and fell in love with it. As with Burton, he apparently developed yellow fever and the book, and others he wrote, are full of sex. Well, what a young teen thinks of as sex. "She took off her gown. The next morning, he made his plans for the week." In this book, Garvin, the hero, sleeps with five women, four of them Asiatic and exotic.

It's hard to describe the story. Through a series of accidents, Garvin gets his wish fulfilled- he is given a spaceship to explore the asteroid belt and even as far as Jupiter. On the way home, ... The ending fits with the book but there is no clear plot or story line.

There is a lot of complaint about the democratic system of the US and how voters are becoming 'The Plastic Populace', manipulated by subliminal messages to follow the nation's real leaders.

And there is a lot of how Asians, particularly Uighers, are far more civilized and evolved.

When you reread a story you loved in your teens, you have to expect, if not disappointment, then at least a new look at aging material. And this story has aged greatly.

I'm leaving the four star rating. This was a book I remember fondly from my teenage years. It might even have influenced my decision to travel to Asia, although I'd give Kipling more credit for that.

[Ove · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit dated but still enjoyable

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in my Grandpa's book collection. It's old and out of touch with modern science fiction but it was still fun to read thus earning its extra star.

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1982 grade C-