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Advance Agent
Raveling Porcy's systematized enigma, Dan found himself with a spy's worst break—he was saddled with the guise of a famed man!
A masterful science fiction tale told by one of the greats, Christopher Anvil!
A masterful science fiction tale told by one of the greats, Christopher Anvil!
48 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2022
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Anvil
163 books31 followersChristopher Anvil was a pseudonym used by author Harry C. Crosby. He began publishing science fiction with the story "Cinderella, Inc." in the December 1952 issue of the science fiction magazine Imagination. By 1956, he had adopted his pseudonym and was being published in Astounding Magazine.
Anvil's repeated appearances in Astounding/Analog were due in part to his ability to write to one of Campbell's preferred plots: alien opponents with superior firepower losing out to the superior intelligence or indomitable will of humans. A second factor is his stories are nearly always humorous throughout. Another was his characterization and manner of story crafting, where his protagonists slid from disaster to disaster with the best of intentions, and through exercise of fast thinking, managed to snatch victory somehow from the jaws of defeat.
Anvil's repeated appearances in Astounding/Analog were due in part to his ability to write to one of Campbell's preferred plots: alien opponents with superior firepower losing out to the superior intelligence or indomitable will of humans. A second factor is his stories are nearly always humorous throughout. Another was his characterization and manner of story crafting, where his protagonists slid from disaster to disaster with the best of intentions, and through exercise of fast thinking, managed to snatch victory somehow from the jaws of defeat.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 30, 2020
Advance Agent is a nice industrial spy versus industrial spy story before the genre existed. Typical of its day, it's nicely edited and well crafted, although more an amusing read than an exciting read to today's audiences, me thinks. The storyline presages lots that came afterwords and is a good starting point for anyone studying industrial colonialism. To that point, the story could be based on US companies entering foreign markets ahead of local or other foreign competition.
An interesting read.
An interesting read.
August 27, 2016
Brilliant Novella as Usual
What a creative imagination! This is the most unusual alien civilization set up that I have read. A Earthly agent is sent to mingle with the inhabitants to see how their civilization is set up and if they would be open to trade with Earth. Once there, he realizes that the agents of another corporation are infiltrating also, and they are known for their dirty tricks. Great short story, I wish it was a full length novel.
Christopher Anvil's short stories are always creative, and especially mentally stimulating as the reader is usually trying to figure out what is happening and the solutions alongside the protagonist. You can't go wrong with Christopher Anvil.
What a creative imagination! This is the most unusual alien civilization set up that I have read. A Earthly agent is sent to mingle with the inhabitants to see how their civilization is set up and if they would be open to trade with Earth. Once there, he realizes that the agents of another corporation are infiltrating also, and they are known for their dirty tricks. Great short story, I wish it was a full length novel.
Christopher Anvil's short stories are always creative, and especially mentally stimulating as the reader is usually trying to figure out what is happening and the solutions alongside the protagonist. You can't go wrong with Christopher Anvil.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews