Book Review - The Ethos Effect by L.E. Modesitt, jr.

I've mentioned before that my father is much more of a science fiction fan than I am. I've also mentioned that I will regularly talk books with him and get some recommendations. The Ethos Effect is one of his recommendations based on my enjoyment of Dune. Both Dune and The Ethos Effect include hard sci-fi elements (important technologies, space battles, and galactic cultures) but also include huge social and political components. With classes and limited reading time it's taken me a while to get to it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The book takes the long view, taking place over several years, but keeps the perspective to one character with a returning cast. It wasn't really difficult to keep track of everyone. My father's copy was personalized with the statement "For the ethics!" and I wasn't sure why until I was about half way through it. There is an overarching question throughout the book of what is ethical, why ethics are important, and to what extent is someone willing to go to preserve ethics. Some might call the book message fiction, but like Pratchett's books, I didn't feel that I was being influenced to think a certain way, but rather to consider an idea and its possible implications. There are plenty of hot-topic buzz words, but they did not captivate the story - I didn't feel like Modesitt was trying to check things off a list.

Plot: Van Albert is a capable commander who has had some bad luck. A previous attempt to destroy a marauder resulted in a freak accident that killed a colony ship of innocent bystanders. Even with it proven to be beyond his control, with such a black mark on his record he knew that he would never be considered for important missions. However, he received an important mission when he is called to be the military attache in a highly pivotal system. Things get stranger after he foils an assassination attempt. and finds himself forcibly retired for "medical reasons." Cast adrift and cut off we tries to find something to do with his time, but nobody wants a ex-career military pilot. Nobody by a strange information group that not only offers him his own command, but a salary that is obscenely high. Is it too good to be true, or is it too little compensation for the lengths that Van will be required to go?

My personal favorites: Van was a good character. He was competent and likable. The other supporting roles felt real too. The conflict was a balance of physical and mental and wasn't heavy handed or heady. Modesitt was an economist by trade - one of the reasons my father likes him - and I liked the way that he discussed the economic and ethical aspects of the story. They were not complicated, but were though provoking. The tech was well handled without being burdensome, focusing on the story.

Considerations: The only consideration that is needed is how the reader feels about the actions taken in the book. There is no graphic violence and no sensuality. What the book does contain is people making choices that the reader is asked to judge for themselves.

While I had to remind myself that many classic sci-fi tend to take a while to build up, I enjoyed it and found it rather engaging. It was certainly thought provoking. I just read through some of the one star reviews on Amazon and while I can see why some people may not enjoy it, I did. The total length was 544 pages.