Ministry of Disturbance and Other Science Fiction by H. Beam Piper, Adventure Paperback – April 1, 2007
“Ministry of Disturbance” by H. Beam Piper, originally published in Astounding Science Fiction, December 1958, Aegypan 2007 trade paperback, 200 pages.
This is part of H. Beam Piper’s Future History series that he worked on throughout his SF writing years.
In this story, a Galactic Empire of thousands of planets has been at peace for hundreds of years. Production all across the Empire is regulated to keep markets and economies stable.
Yet now there is apparently a plot to overthrow the current hereditary Emperor. Though it seems there could be more than one person wanting the power and prestige of the Emperor, it’s unclear who would gain the most.
Though the story is, typically of Piper, more talk than action, I enjoyed it and am continuing to read this collection.
Tip the Wink 
Sounds a little too close to what is going on here to be fun to read.
It’s not really, and it’s clear it’s SF and inter-galactic and Piper writes with some humor.
Piper is another of those authors I’ve heard about over the years but have never read. I do have something by him on the Kindle, I think. I should at least try him.
He’s an author one likes, or doesn’t, not a lot of ground between. While I wouldn’t read book after book, a story collection like this is fun.
I read Piper’s THE SPACE VIKING as a kid back in the 1960s and continued to read his SF. Not of fan of his FUZZY series, though.
His Fuzzy books are better than the attempt Scalzi made.
This sounds good, Rick. I will look around for a copy to add to my TBR.
I’ll send my copy when I finish it.
I would love that, Rick, if you don’t mind. No rush, of course. Thanks so much.
I read a lot of Piper in the early 60’s. I remember him mostly from the short stories Omnilingual, Naudsonce and He Walked Around the Horses.
Yes, “Omnilingual” is certainly one of his best. He’s still worth reading, even if he is sometimes a little to Campbellian.
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