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The Probability Broach
 
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The Probability Broach (Paperback)

by L.Neil Smith (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
Price: £11.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Saint Martin's Press Inc.; New edition edition (26 April 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0765301539
  • ISBN-13: 978-0765301536
  • Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 14 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 471,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review
"Contained ideas I wish could be shouted to the world, ideas that come from the American heritage of freedom and which could bring still greater individual liberty, greater technical progress."--Vernor Vinge, author of "A Deepness in the Sky"
"Pick up a new copy of the book and rediscover this exciting world, and reserve me a table at Meep's Texas Barbecue."--"Prometheus"


Product Description
In 1980, L Neil Smith turned the science fiction field upside down with the publication of THE PROBABILITY BROACH. Set in the (then) near future, it's the story of Win Bear, a Denver detective on the trail of a murder. But the trail leads him to another America, where things are different. In a world of zeppelins, intelligent apes who can vote and no federal government. Win solves his mystery and things are never the same for him again.

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible book., 26 April 2008
By Paul M. Clark (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I was pointed towards this book as "the" Libertarian science fiction novel and have just finished struggling through it (in the optimistic and flawed hope that the ending may be the book's salvation).

This book is truly awful. The characters are cliched, unbelieveable, one dimensional and unsympathetic. The story is paper thin and utterly ridiculous (even for sci-fi). By any standard, the writing is very poor. Perhaps I am missing the point in that books like these are about the message (i.e. the benefits that a Libertarian society would bring to us all). I really believe that fiction can convey this type of message far better and more engagingly than non fiction but this book even does a poor job of this. Avoid.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Phillip Marlowe meets the free wheeling future!!, 27 Mar 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback)
A detective of the same cut as Phillip Marlowe is blasted into a parallel dimension where governments don't exist, freedom and responsibility rules, and prosperity is everywhere. There he uncovers a plot by the dreaded Federalists to institute a government upon the people and it's up to him and his anarchist buddies to stop them.

Although a bit dated, I first read this novel in the early 80's and loved it. It was a great introduction to libertarianism and a wild ride to boot. One of my all time favorites.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Paradigm for A Discouraged Freedom-Lover, 2 Jun 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Probability Broach (Paperback)
I picked up the sequel to The Probability Broach (The Venus Belt) by accident. That hooked me. L. Neil Smith plays with the language as can no author since Harry Harrison and, unlike Mr. Harrison, promotes a world-view of unfettered freedom and unlimited personal responsibility. After too many years of Comrade Clinton, I was starting to lose hope, but after reading The Probability Broach, I realized that this could work! Get this book into the hands of anyone who'll read it. We just might start a much-needed Gallatinist revolution in this universe!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Science Fiction I Have Read
I read this novel in 1987, when I was feeling depressed about the deteriorating state of liberty in England. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dr. S. I. Gabb

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not great
This is an amusing book and Neil Smith has created a colourful (and to my mind believable)world in which the story takes place. Read more
Published on 13 Jul 2007 by Peter T

4.0 out of 5 stars Probability Broach is becoming a liberty clasic.
I first read this book many years ago and it was one of many that helped to form my understanding of how a free society could function and some of the dangers that would face... Read more
Published on 21 April 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best SF novels of the hundreds I've read !!
I've read this book at least 3 times in the last 10 years. If I wrote a book, this is one I would use as a guideline for great science fiction. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the classics! Thank goodness it's been republished.
Very few writers have as much fun with the language as does L. Neil Smith. And in "The Probability Broach" he has written a classic, not only in science fiction, but in... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars very good libertarian novel
The Probability Broach is the best book I have read about Libertarian ideas. L. Neil Smith sums up all the thoughts of Libertarian's and puts them into an easy to read, exciting... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB!
Kudos to L. Neil Smith for his wild and wooly ride through time! When you open this book, sit down, relax and enjoy the ride! Read more
Published on 28 Dec 1997

4.0 out of 5 stars Must read for libertarian SF fans!
Smith presents a well-crafted tale of alternate realities in the tradition and style of H. Beam Piper and Heinlein. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for non-big government liberals!
Fascinating look into an alternitive reality, one that is totally antithema to todays "big-government, it takes a village air-head liberal" Great fantasy read that takes... Read more
Published on 18 Oct 1997

4.0 out of 5 stars A 21st century gumshoe Novel. *****
As a 20+ year collector of SF, I feel that this is a refreshing original. Having read it for the first time in 1983, I found that it is still as unique now as it was then. Read more
Published on 28 April 1997

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