The Dragon's Eye - Hardcover

Champetier, Joel

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312868820 ISBN 13: 9780312868826

Publisher: St Martin's Press, 1999

Synopsis

It is the story of a secret agent on another planet, New China, whose mission is to bring back a turncoat from deep in the territory of an unfriendly colonial settlement -- or at least as much of him as possible. Filled with sharp and memorable characters and moments of surprise, this adventure is going to be one of the SF events of the year.

About this title

Review:

The set up is intriguing: the fifth habitable planet to be colonised by humans was not all that habitable; it lacked an abundance of natural resources, and its second sun beamed down poisonous ultraviolet rays causing burns and blindness. Overpopulated China was the only nation desperate enough to take on the challenge-- and the debt.

Over a hundred years later, secret agent Tanner arrives on New China on assignment to the European Enclave. He's got a couple of days to soak up information on local habits, politics and personalities. Then he disguises himself as a Chinese man and embarks on his mission to the interior with Hamakawa, a jaded Japanese agent. Along the way they pick up Qingling, a New Chinese woman who falls for Tanner.

The Dragon's Eye is the first of French-Canadian Joel Champetier's novels to be translated into English. It starts off well, but in its quest to be both science fiction and political thriller, does justice to neither. The science fiction aspect could delve more into the cultural changes of the New Chinese and interactions with the Terrans who settle there. The hapless Tanner, Hamakawa and Qingling can't quite hold our interest as characters in a better-plotted thriller would. Tanner's struggle with his biological disguise is interesting, but his character development isn't convincing enough.

While one can imagine The Dragon's Eye as better SF, or better espioniage, Champetier's New China and its political intrigue may be worth a look for those who like their SF with some action. --Bonnie Bouman

Synopsis:

The story of a secret agent on another planet, New China. His mission is to bring back a turncoat from deep in the territory of an unfriendly colonial settlement.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martin's Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0312868820
• ISBN 13: 9780312868826
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 297