This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/26/boris-johnson-agent-of-chaos
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson, Agent of Chaos | Boris Johnson, Agent of Chaos |
| (11 days later) | |
| I haunt secondhand shops, looking for books from the golden age of science fiction. Last week I found Agent of Chaos by Norman Spinrad, the New English Library edition of 1972, described on the jacket as “A new novel by the mind-toppling author of ‘Bug Jack Barron’.” | I haunt secondhand shops, looking for books from the golden age of science fiction. Last week I found Agent of Chaos by Norman Spinrad, the New English Library edition of 1972, described on the jacket as “A new novel by the mind-toppling author of ‘Bug Jack Barron’.” |
| The blurb on the back reads: “The Solar System was ruled by total terror. There could only be one hope for galactic peace – and that meant violent death. Fifty men were prepared to pay with their lives to destroy the Council.” | The blurb on the back reads: “The Solar System was ruled by total terror. There could only be one hope for galactic peace – and that meant violent death. Fifty men were prepared to pay with their lives to destroy the Council.” |
| So far, so usual for the genre. Then: “Boris Johnson felt the tension rising in him as the seconds crept by. He brushed his hands against the reassuring bulge of his laser gun – One minute! | So far, so usual for the genre. Then: “Boris Johnson felt the tension rising in him as the seconds crept by. He brushed his hands against the reassuring bulge of his laser gun – One minute! |
| “He glanced up at the sun leaking through the opaque plastic dome. Slowly he edged closer to the platform, ready to kill. From the social chaos that followed assassination there might come freedom: There were seconds to go. Now!” | “He glanced up at the sun leaking through the opaque plastic dome. Slowly he edged closer to the platform, ready to kill. From the social chaos that followed assassination there might come freedom: There were seconds to go. Now!” |
| As so much of science fiction foreshadows events, let us hope that the foreign secretary hasn’t read this one.John DaviesLancaster | As so much of science fiction foreshadows events, let us hope that the foreign secretary hasn’t read this one.John DaviesLancaster |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Science fiction | Science fiction |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Fiction | Fiction |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |