Wasp by Eric Frank Russell

Anthony G Williams

Anthony G Williams

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An old thriller by one of the classic SF writers, concerning the exploits of a far-future saboteur or "wasp". He is sent to an enemy planet to fabricate an insurgency in order to distract and tie down their forces prior to an invasion. Fast-paced, ingenious and amusing, this isn't strong on SF elements but is still worth a read.

The full review is on my Science Fiction and Fantasy blog.
 
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Anthony G Williams said:
An old thriller by one of the classic SF writers, concerning the exploits of a far-future saboteur or "wasp". He is sent to an enemy planet to fabricate an insurgency in order to distract and tie down their forces prior to an invasion. Fast-paced, ingenious and amusing, this isn't strong on SF elements but is still worth a read.

The full review is on my Science Fiction and Fantasy blog.
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I am a private tutor and I have successfully used Wasp as a set book for my pupils. The excitement and the humour form a great combination. Russell's style is unforgettable. A "monochrome" book, like the best of Keith Laumer, it eschews "colour" in the normal sense of the word - but instead of "colour" there's a kind of situational glow.
 
I remember reading "Wasp" a long time ago and enjoying it immensely. At the time I thought it had a vein of the SOE in Europe during WW II and I still think so. There are some lovely little scenes in it and I particularly recall him queuing in the post office to register his organisation which stated as its objective the downfall of the government. I'm sure I must still have my copy somewhere and I shall look for it. Thank you, AGW, for reminding me of this gem.
 
His 'Next of Kin' (retitled from 'The Space Willies') is of equal stature. So is 'Three to Conquer'. I think Russell himself was the gem, his writings were the gleams given off.

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steelyglint said:
His 'Next of Kin' (retitled from 'The Space Willies') is of equal stature. So is 'Three to Conquer'. I think Russell himself was the gem, his writings were the gleams given off.

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Certainly he had a very attractive authorial personality, an unmistakable voice all his own. Perhaps his most splendidly happy-go-lucky book is Men, Martians and Machines. By contrast, Wasp is serious in theme, though packed with humour.
 
Bick said:
I thought Three to Conquer was Poul Anderson?
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I guess you're thinking of Three Worlds to Conquer. In the Russell novel, the 'three' refers to three astronauts who have returned possessed by an intelligent alien virus. The book was published in 1955 and set in 1980 - a more advanced 1980 than the real one turned out to be. I have probably read that book as often as I have read Wasp, which is more times than I could count.
 
Ahh, yes, thanks for that Zendexor - that was the Anderson I was thinking about. I've not read EFR, with the exception of a few short stories. I perhaps have to put these books on the 'to be read shelf' (mentally at the moment as I own none of them).
 
Bick said:
Ahh, yes, thanks for that Zendexor - that was the Anderson I was thinking about. I've not read EFR, with the exception of a few short stories. I perhaps have to put these books on the 'to be read shelf' (mentally at the moment as I own none of them).
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You have a treat in store, then. Russell, to me, is the type of writer who (like Jack Vance and Clark Ashton Smith and in some cases Simak) is irresistible because of his individual, unmistakable style, rather than for his themes, good though they are.
 
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