Ensign Flandry: The Saga of Dominic Flandry, Agent of Imperial Terra: Book 1

SUMMARY: The late Poul Anderson, who died in 2001, was one of the giants of science fiction and winner of 7 Hugo Awards, the field's highest honor. ENSIGN FLANDRY is a classic character in the history of science fiction. This definitive omnibus of three Flandry adventures will delight Anderson's legion of fans and continue the ibooks program of important works of science fiction as begun with its ZELAZNY, BESTER, and SILVERBERG reissues. After the first flowering of the Terran Empire, which has grown increasingly decadent and corrupt, other civilizations in the galaxy threaten to take over the Terran's worlds. In this scenario steps the debonair, tough and pessimistic Dominic Flandry, half-Hans Solo, half-James Bond and a hero for the ages! From back cover Ace paperback November 1982: INTRODUCING... DOMINIC FLANDRY Before he's through he'll have saved worlds and become the confidante of emperors. But for now he's seventeen years old, as fresh and brash a sprig of the nobility as you would care to know. The only thing as damp as the place behind his ears is the ink on his brand new commission. Though through this and his succeeding adventures he will struggle gloriously and win (usually) mighty victories, Dominic Flandry is essentially a tragic figure: a man who knows too much, who knows that battle, scheme and even betray as he will, in the end it will mean nothing. For with the relentlessness of physical law the Long Night approaches. The Terran Empire is dying... Dominic Flandry had a great future ahead of him as savior of the civilized universe. In later years his talent for swift action would be unmatched, his reputation fabulous. But here he is at the age of nineteen: fresh out of the Naval Academy, naive...and in terrible trouble