Some nostalgia value, but not very good overall. The protagonist becomes dictator and puts into place some interesting but not very well thought out social programs, interleaved with many sex scenes and occasional assassination attempts. The later part of the book kind of falls apart as the protagonist seems to get bored of being dictator, leading to an anticlimactic ending. ( )

In the fourth episode of the life and times of Hope Hubris, our hero, now fully into middle age, is denied the presidency that he and his sister won by popular vote. In response, they orchestrate a takeover of the government and form a tyrancy to rule. Throughout the course of the Tyrancy, Hope is targeted for assassination many times and he's forced to assume an alter ego in order to get out and actually do things. At the end of the volume, however, a nonviolent resistance to the Tyrancy had formed and Hope had to retire and turn the government back over to the people.

I found this to be a much more satisfying book than the prior one in the series. Far fewer Piers-isms in this one. Although, I was not a big fan of the whole "Hope Hubris - the man who men want to be and women want to be with" thing. Hope's sexual conquests get a little out of hand. Unfortunately, I kinda saw that Amber was going to end up one of his bedpost notches rather early - although some of their null-gee pin the tail on the donkey games were both funny and intriguing.

I enjoyed the Julius Ceasar reference, and through the Big Iron beatdown attempt was interesting and well done. I also caught more than a whiff of the JFK white house in Hope and Spirit's administration. But, I have to admit - the last line were we discover the identity of the leader of the resistance was no surprise at all to me. ( )

This review is for whole series -- engrossing characters and unfortunately probable world building. Absolutely the plot and the protagonist sucks you right in and goes nonstop through all 6 books.

I am a fan of Piers Anthony; but, reader beware -- this ain't no Xanth. Much more intense situations. "Caligula of the stars" on one of the excerpts is a very apt description for some disturbing portions in series; definitely for adults with actions and memories graphic/explicit as to sex, violence, rape and even child molesting. ( )

BIO OF A SPACE TYRANT

Space Tyrant series: 1-Refugee, 2-Mercenary, 3-Politician, 4-Executive, 5-Statesman