sdlotu
3/10/2023
Here is a remarkably authoritarian story about how feudal rulers and hereditary lords are better at running societies than democratically elected governments.
The framework of this story is a revenge tale of a man whose bride was killed on their wedding day, and the lengths he goes through to find and avenge her death. Along the way, the protagonist creates his own hereditary fiefdom, and in both peaceful and vioent interactions with other planets, suppsedly demonstrates how hereditary feudalism is more efficient and better suited to dfeveloping civilization on widely scattered planets throughout the galaxy.
Otherwise, it seems a pretty deailed construction of empire building, societal development, and interplanetary war wrapped around a revenge motive.
Not one of Piper's best by any means. Worth it only if you're a big Piper fan.