Executive

Rating:
Summary: Executive
Review: Great book! Anohter in the series of Bio of a Space Tyrant, Anthony does a great job in this book, as the events of Hope Hubris as the Tyrant of Jupiter proceed. I highly recomend this book to all who love science fiction or futuristic politics. However, if you want to read this book start at the first one in the series, Refugee.

Rating:
Summary: good biographical science fiction [no spoilers]
Review: I've been recently reading novels from my past, especially those I recall enjoying. I felt like revisiting this series, seeing if I remember correctly.

Back cover of book:

Doomed to a Madman's Hell

He was shaping his times as no one before him dared, mercilessly scourging an entire planet of crime and corruption wherever he found them - and destroying anyone who stood in his way. Absolute dictator of the United States of Jupiter, Hope Hubris was destined to become the most hated and feared man of an era, a tyrant charged with countless heinous acts and sexual cruelties. Yet justice remained his fiercest passion.

Now to insure his goals, Hope would assume an alternate identity and become a rebel - the brilliant leader in a revolution dedicated to his own overthrow. To fulfill his dreams he would sacrifice love...and plunge headlong into madness...

Executive

End back cover of book.

The writing is a reflective biography of Hope Hubris to what he encountered during his tenure as Tyrant of Jupiter. I found the volume to be tough to read through at times given the pace of the prior books. I was fascinated with the impact of different facets of a government under construction, from picking a competent director to implementing the final policy. Again he uses his preternatural skills to select those around him to form this government. Also there is some interesting action with the creative attempts on his life.

It became difficult when a formula appeared similar to the previous volumes and I couldn't get inspired as before to read to the next chapter. Almost as if the basic structure of each volume is the same yet the context is different. It was the navy, then a political career, and now an entire government. In addition, I scratch my scalp at some of the usual odd behaviors between him and his female companions. Decent read though.

Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: good biographical science fiction [no spoilers]
Review: I've been recently reading novels from my past, especially those I recall enjoying. I felt like revisiting this series, seeing if I remember correctly.

Back cover of book:

Doomed to a Madman's Hell

He was shaping his times as no one before him dared, mercilessly scourging an entire planet of crime and corruption wherever he found them - and destroying anyone who stood in his way. Absolute dictator of the United States of Jupiter, Hope Hubris was destined to become the most hated and feared man of an era, a tyrant charged with countless heinous acts and sexual cruelties. Yet justice remained his fiercest passion.

Now to insure his goals, Hope would assume an alternate identity and become a rebel - the brilliant leader in a revolution dedicated to his own overthrow. To fulfill his dreams he would sacrifice love...and plunge headlong into madness...

Executive

End back cover of book.

The writing is a reflective biography of Hope Hubris to what he encountered during his tenure as Tyrant of Jupiter. I found the volume to be tough to read through at times given the pace of the prior books. I was fascinated with the impact of different facets of a government under construction, from picking a competent director to implementing the final policy. Again he uses his preternatural skills to select those around him to form this government. Also there is some interesting action with the creative attempts on his life.

It became difficult when a formula appeared similar to the previous volumes and I couldn't get inspired as before to read to the next chapter. Almost as if the basic structure of each volume is the same yet the context is different. It was the navy, then a political career, and now an entire government. In addition, I scratch my scalp at some of the usual odd behaviors between him and his female companions. Decent read though.

Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting but not as good as the first three books
Review: This is the fourth book in Piers Anthony's five book Bio of a Space Tyrant series.

The basic idea is that the main character, Hope Hubris has now reached the level of highest office, that of Executive, and is complete ruler ("Tyrant") of Jupiter. He now has to escape assasinations and reform business and society for Jupiter to survive.

In my opinion the first three books in this series are absolutely fantastic and are some of the best sci-fi I have ever read. Unfortunately, I don't find this fourth book to be on the same level. I give this book 4 stars for those who loved the previous books (as I did), but only 3 stars for the casual reader.

Though quite interesting and enjoyable in many individual parts, the author doesn't weave as compelling a story here (after all, the main character is now ruler), and the book's continued allusions to communism and problems of the 80's give it a dating that starts to detract somewhat from the plausability of some of the plot-points.

That being said, it is interesting to see how the main character progresses through his "term" and how the office affects him. Also, it is very interesting to hear how someone with absolute power would solve society's ills -especially when you then get to go into the backlash that would follow.

All in all, worthwhile if you liked the series, but not something I'd consider a must-read like the others.