Teaser

In all the solar system, there is no award higher than the Galactic Medal of Honor. The bearer can do whatever he pleases, with no limitations. It’s a privilege most men would die for, and for which one man is willing to lie . . .

Review

I bought this book for the simple fact that it reminded me of Space Viking, that H. Beam Piper classic that got me into science fiction. Not in terms of plot or anything concrete like that. It was more the bold colour of the spine (a vivid purple, in this case) and that general feel of classic space opera. The book was also very cheap, and that goes a long way.

Mack Reynolds is a fairly famous author in science fiction circles, though his is a fame that has ebbed as the years have gone by. Indeed, this is the first book of his I’ve read, and I can’t recall seeing any others in my regular trawls of used bookshops. Another similarity with Piper, but that’s about as far as the connection goes.

I went into this book expecting a lot more shenanigans that I got, but what I read instead was much better than the anticipated comedy. The scam by which our hero (and I use the term loosely) earns the titular medal is incredibly simple, and dealt with very quickly. There’s never any doubt that he’ll get away with it. So no, this isn’t a fast-paced thriller. Instead, it’s a meditation on how power corrupts, and absolute powers even more so. But, if all you have is the illusion of power, might you be able to make it out with your soul and reputation intact?

This is a strange book in that the protagonist is largely unopposed. Other than the threat of mutually assured destruction with his co-conspirators (which never really amounts to much), he is handed everything on a silver platter. Because this was written in 1976, this includes sex. There’s a bizarre scene in which a couple on their honeymoon happily allow the bride to have a one night stand based purely on the fact that the other cheating party has the Galactic Medal of Honour, and another in which an entire brothel shuts doors to attend to his manly needs. These are really the only knocks against the novel, and the thematic strength of the book is more than enough to compensate for the free love movement.

Having a protagonist with limitless resources makes for an interesting read. It’s impossible to deny that Don has it easy, and is seduced by his newfound fame. He absolutely abuses the power afforded him. Yet as the novel progresses, he improves as a man. That sense of morality makes Galactic Medal of Honor a lot more optimistic than many of its contemporaries. Primes a s a novel about the abuses of power, Reynolds ultimately writes a novel about how good men can work within bad systems, and how change can come from within rather than being opposed from without.

Like all good literature, Galactic Medal of Honor consists of layers which must be peeled back to reveal the core. But this is no pointless puzzle box. There is a core. Each layer does not obscure the heart of the book, but rather adds to it. There’s Don’s personal arc, the mysterious alien threat, the complicated hierarchy of the solar system, and so much more. Put everything together, and you’ve got an absolutely phenomenal piece of science fiction.

Book Stats

• A Standalone Novel
• Originally Published 1976
• 279 Pages