Rating: 
Summary: A great book, with lots of nice ideas...
Review: Lieutenant Edward W. Bear, of Denver lives in a world where energy reserves are 'dwindling', unlicensed air conditioning could get you in more trouble than hoarding silver and businesses seem to be closing left and right. But while investigating a murder he gets blasted into another world, where people seem happy, are rich and WELL armed. Even the GORILLAS!
A libertarian setting which takes all the theory and tries to make it work. If you liked Heinlein you should love L. Neil Smith. Sometimes a tad unrealistic, but so what?
Rating: 
Summary: A little too, too Heinleineske, but no true story.
Review: Little spurts of action followed by all your favorite Heinlein characters sitting around drinking, recuperating and explaining why the totally useless action sequence just occurred. The clueless male hero who keeps getting wounded, the Friday-like female nurse/gunwoman romantic fluff, the bartender-like guy, full of inappropriate witticisms, the old enigmatic character who turns out to be a famous master spy/politician/warrior. Everybody here is way overarmed and undersmart. Another alternate world, wow. If this is the vision of the future of Libertarianism run rampant, it's no wonder none of their candidates can get elected. The one aspect of this work which bothers me most is that HUMANS DON"T ACT THIS WAY! Science fiction writers are the most guilty of all, in that when they contrive their brave new worlds they try to make man into a different animal without explaining why he would be different. If Mr. Smith thinks a little bout of libertarianism will change human nature, then he should think again. Escapism is fine, but give us a break. Buy it if you're a fan of libertarian fiction or a die hard R. A. H. fan. Otherwise, shine it on
Rating:
Summary: Portrait of the Libertarian Ideal
Review: Oh, the story is silly and the writing is just OK, but the portrait painted of the Libertarian ideal is pretty well done. One can read this book and almost imagine living in a world where there are *really* no laws, except for those that *individuals* collectively enforce.Actual Libertarians tend towards two camps: Limited Government and No Government. Smith is in the latter camp.
Rating:
Summary: Portrait of the Libertarian Ideal
Review: Oh, the story is silly and the writing is just OK, but the portrait painted of the Libertarian ideal is pretty well done. One can read this book and almost imagine living in a world where there are *really* no laws, except for those that *individuals* collectively enforce. Actual Libertarians tend towards two camps: Limited Government and No Government. Smith is in the latter camp.
Rating: 
Summary: The Intercontinua Chase and Shootout
Review: Probability Broach is Smith's first novel. It is the story of a Denver Police Lieutenant Edward William Bear, called Win, who somehow find himself in a different continuum. This novel is followed by a direct sequel, The American Zone, which has some of the flavor but less of the excitement of this novel. Win is on lunch break when he is called to the scene of a homicide. The victim, Vaughn L. Meiss, has been shot multiple times by a machine pistol, yet got off four shots with his own weapon, apparently to good effect. Meiss is a professor of Physics at Colorado State University and is also a card-carrying Propertarian. Since Meiss was killed in the vicinity of the Propertarian state headquarters, Win checks with the staff there and learns that Meiss was expected for an executive committee meeting. After interviewing the State Director, Jenny Noble, and other directors at the meeting, he finds that Meiss had been very excited by something and that the weapon that Meiss was carrying had been provided by the government to protect state secrets. Win also interviews Dr. Otis Bealle, chairman of the CSU Physics department, and gets to see Meiss' office and laboratory. While he is in the lab, several men try to kill him with a machine pistol and other weapons. He accidentally hits the power switch on the gadget in the lab and then dives through an emergency exit, which happens to be an intercontinual portal. Shot, dazed and not very coherent, he stumbles out of the hole on the other side and is then blown through the air by an explosion. Looking for help, he finds a telecom booth containing a screen and a keyboard, where he enters "O" for operator, but the animated drawing that appears cannot find a listing for the Denver Police anywhere in the known solar system. He tries for Bealls' number, but finds no "Otis" listed. However, he sees an adjacent listing for Edward W. Bear, Consulting Detective. The phone is busy, but the location in nearby, so he decides to walk -- make that stagger -- to the address. On the way, he refreshes himself, and his clothes, at a corner pit stop, later is pursued and shot by unknown persons in a long black hovercraft, and then lands face down in front of the other Bear's garage door. When he awakens, he is being treated by a medico with a beautiful voice and a mean electronarcosis gun. When he wakes up again, he discovers that the voice belongs to a gorgeous blonde named Clarissa Olson. He also meets the other Bear, called Ed, as well as Lucille Gallegos Kropotkin, a 136 year old war veteran, judge, and congressperson. Lucy is Ed's next door neighbor and totes two 50 caliber Gabbet Fairfax pistols when she is going on a raid; otherwise, she only carries one during normal everyday activities. Win is now a resident of the North American Confederation governed under Propertarian principles as expounded by Albert Gallatin. The novel is full of political philosophy in between shootouts and chase scenes. The politics is interesting and even intriguing, but well integrated into the action. This is a different kind of novel than most, much like Starship Troopers in its union of thought and action. It makes a good case for universal arming of the population and an even better case against governments of every kind. After 9/11, the idea of arming airline passengers doesn't seem so silly, does it? Recommended for anyone who has seriously considered the nature of governments and individual freedom, but wants his polemic with some excitement.
Rating:
Summary: The Intercontinua Chase and Shootout
Review: Probability Broach is Smith's first novel. It is the story of a Denver Police Lieutenant Edward William Bear, called Win, who somehow find himself in a different continuum. This novel is followed by a direct sequel, The American Zone, which has some of the flavor but less of the excitement of this novel. Win is on lunch break when he is called to the scene of a homicide. The victim, Vaughn L. Meiss, has been shot multiple times by a machine pistol, yet got off four shots with his own weapon, apparently to good effect. Meiss is a professor of Physics at Colorado State University and is also a card-carrying Propertarian. Since Meiss was killed in the vicinity of the Propertarian state headquarters, Win checks with the staff there and learns that Meiss was expected for an executive committee meeting. After interviewing the State Director, Jenny Noble, and other directors at the meeting, he finds that Meiss had been very excited by something and that the weapon that Meiss was carrying had been provided by the government to protect state secrets. Win also interviews Dr. Otis Bealle, chairman of the CSU Physics department, and gets to see Meiss' office and laboratory. While he is in the lab, several men try to kill him with a machine pistol and other weapons. He accidentally hits the power switch on the gadget in the lab and then dives through an emergency exit, which happens to be an intercontinual portal. Shot, dazed and not very coherent, he stumbles out of the hole on the other side and is then blown through the air by an explosion. Looking for help, he finds a telecom booth containing a screen and a keyboard, where he enters "O" for operator, but the animated drawing that appears cannot find a listing for the Denver Police anywhere in the known solar system. He tries for Bealls' number, but finds no "Otis" listed. However, he sees an adjacent listing for Edward W. Bear, Consulting Detective. The phone is busy, but the location in nearby, so he decides to walk -- make that stagger -- to the address. On the way, he refreshes himself, and his clothes, at a corner pit stop, later is pursued and shot by unknown persons in a long black hovercraft, and then lands face down in front of the other Bear's garage door. When he awakens, he is being treated by a medico with a beautiful voice and a mean electronarcosis gun. When he wakes up again, he discovers that the voice belongs to a gorgeous blonde named Clarissa Olson. He also meets the other Bear, called Ed, as well as Lucille Gallegos Kropotkin, a 136 year old war veteran, judge, and congressperson. Lucy is Ed's next door neighbor and totes two 50 caliber Gabbet Fairfax pistols when she is going on a raid; otherwise, she only carries one during normal everyday activities. Win is now a resident of the North American Confederation governed under Propertarian principles as expounded by Albert Gallatin. The novel is full of political philosophy in between shootouts and chase scenes. The politics is interesting and even intriguing, but well integrated into the action. This is a different kind of novel than most, much like Starship Troopers in its union of thought and action. It makes a good case for universal arming of the population and an even better case against governments of every kind. After 9/11, the idea of arming airline passengers doesn't seem so silly, does it? Recommended for anyone who has seriously considered the nature of governments and individual freedom, but wants his polemic with some excitement.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for libertarian SF fans!
Review: Smith presents a well-crafted tale of alternate realities in the tradition and style of H. Beam Piper and Heinlein. It is especially enjoyable for readers of the libertarian persuasion, as the alternate universe presents an anarcho-capitalist near utopia that diverged from our own in the late 18th century. There is a serviceable plot having to do with a conspiracy of pro-government nasties in both universes, but SF world-building is the main order of business, and it's nicely done. My 8 is for libertarians and alternate universe aficianados; for others it's a 5-6.
Rating:
Summary: Three books to read...
Review: Smiths TPB is excelent theory wrapped in pretty good sci-fi (pronounced Skiffy!). Don't read this if, as some reviewers seemed to, you expect grand space opera. This book is more a reflection of Dorithy's trip to Oz, complete with the change from B&W to Technicolour, than it reflects some mega-page like the Brothers Karamazov. Which brings me to my point: Read this book. Then read Unintended Consequences by John Ross. If you want Wagnerian Opera, read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. If it takes sci-fi to bring individual freedom to a wide audience, this book will do it. ...Just don't initiate force to make someone read it. [grin]
Rating:
Summary: A Very Important Book
Review: Some reviewers love L. Neil Smith's hommage to Raymond Chandler, Mike Hammer, and Robert Heinlein (not to mention Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard). Some reviewers *hate* "The Probability Broach" for its raucus, rough, wild-ride through a libertarian "alternative history." Some hate it for its frank, unabashed dedication to liberty and the American Bill of Rights (all of them). But NO ONE who has read "The Probability Broach" forgets it. L. Neil Smith is a unique individual who just so happens to support free-markets, liberty, and justice for all. He knows the awful, yet liberating truth: unless you are free to own guns to protect yourself, you are defenseless against the bad guys. Without the 2nd Amendment, none of the others *matter* - and Smith is almost unique amongst modern writers in plainly stating the facts, ma'am. His historical research is actually quite detailed, and those of us who recognize the full truth - not the lies told to us, but the real truth about the genius of Jefferson, Washington, Paine, and Sam Adams - we thank him for bringing to our attention how the American Revolution was highjacked, and things have been slowly going downhill ever since. Read the book. Decide for yourself if liberty is a better worldview than fascism, grinding socialism, and busybodies everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Important Book
Review: Some reviewers love L. Neil Smith's hommage to Raymond Chandler, Mike Hammer, and Robert Heinlein (not to mention Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard). Some reviewers *hate* "The Probability Broach" for its raucus, rough, wild-ride through a libertarian "alternative history." Some hate it for its frank, unabashed dedication to liberty and the American Bill of Rights (all of them). But NO ONE who has read "The Probability Broach" forgets it. L. Neil Smith is a unique individual who just so happens to support free-markets, liberty, and justice for all. He knows the awful, yet liberating truth: unless you are free to own guns to protect yourself, you are defenseless against the bad guys. Without the 2nd Amendment, none of the others *matter* - and Smith is almost unique amongst modern writers in plainly stating the facts, ma'am. His historical research is actually quite detailed, and those of us who recognize the full truth - not the lies told to us, but the real truth about the genius of Jefferson, Washington, Paine, and Sam Adams - we thank him for bringing to our attention how the American Revolution was highjacked, and things have been slowly going downhill ever since. Read the book. Decide for yourself if liberty is a better worldview than fascism, grinding socialism, and busybodies everywhere.
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