Perhaps it is a bit early, but I’m nominating a book I’ve just read for the ’92 Prometheus award. Its title is The Silicon Man, written by Charles Platt, published by Bantam as a Spectra special edition. I would recommend it to any literate libertarian, or any unsuspecting non-libertarian in need of an ideology adjustment.

One of the nice things about this book is that it doesn’t hit you on the head with freedom. The story works as a story, and although the author lets the reader know what some of the characters’ political views are, there are no diatribes aimed at propagandizing. But the ideas are there, in disguise.

Unfortunately, the disguise may be a bit too effective. I don’t want to reveal too much, but Platt employs some tricks which would allow a statist reader to browse along enjoying the plot, nodding his head, until the tables turn in the last chapter. But the transition takes place too suddenly, giving off an odor of deus ex machina. At that point I imagine a large portion of the readership spitting out the bait as Platt attempts to spring the trap.

For his non-libertarian audience, more gradual development of doubt concerning the icons of authority would render the ending in higher resolution. Even those compatible with the sudden switch to an anti-authoritarian message will have trouble with another crucial component of the script — an instance of absolute power failing to corrupt. But these flaws are far from fatal.

This is the second of Platt’s books that I’ve enjoyed. I neglected to nominate the first, Free Zone, for a Prometheus award, confident that I would only duplicate the efforts of others. This book justly deserves the attention of our members for its clever combination of absurd humor, high adventure, human concerns, and ideological relevance. I highly recommend both of these books, and I will be watching this author in the future.