Why Piers Anthony is primarily considered a fantasy author, I’ll never know. I think that at least half of his greatest work is Sci-Fi, and this book is the beginning of one of his best series. Bio of a Space Tyrant (beginning with Refugee) is a great look at the rise of one person in a sea of chaos to the pinnacle of leadership.

In this book we learn of the main character’s race for survival as he flees his home planet in a simple space pod along with 100 or so other refugees. This book is not for the prude -it deals with violent encounters and the need and drive for survival in the worst of human conditions.

I could not put this book down, and think the rest of the series lives up to its promise.

While obviously a lot of events in the book mirror some of the events and historical cold-war issues of our time, I found that a lot of the commentary was refreshing and thoughtful, and it reminded me of Robert E. Heinlein, who often proposed “harsh” solutions to mankind’s problems -solutions that very well may have worked had we the will to implement them.

I found it to be a fantastic book, and when I got to the end I was truly surprised at the depth of what I had read. I had NOT expected the book to progress as it had.

Though out of print in the mass market paperback edition, I would say it would ABSOLUTELY be worth purchasing the trade paperback versions or purchasing the older ones used. A small price to pay for a series that may open up your mind to different ways at looking at the world, and to understanding in a fresh way the human machinations within.

If you liked this sci-fi excursion with Piers Anthony, I’d also recommend his 5 volume “Cluster” Series which is also amazing sci-fi (and even more imaginative), as well as his “Omnivore / Orn / Ox” series, and finally, and most especially, his Split Infinity series (which may be my favorite -but is only half sci-fi; the other half being pure fantasy). Really imaginative and compelling Science Fiction here.

http://rapidshare.de/files/10427005/Piers_Anthony_-_Tyrant_01_-_Refugee.zip.html

ShareThis