The Tactful Saboteur: Difference between revisions

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c\e; no need here to get into how many universes he created; plot needs expansion, I'll get a round tuit.
 
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| publisher =
| publisher =
| media_type = Print ([[Magazine]])
| media_type = Print ([[Magazine]])
| pub_date = October 1964
| pub_date = October 1964magnum opus
| preceded_by = [[A Matter of Traces]]
| preceded_by = [[A Matter of Traces]]
| followed_by = ''[[Whipping Star]]''
| followed_by = ''[[Whipping Star]]''
}}
}}


"'''The Tactful Saboteur'''" is a [[science fiction]] [[Novella|novelette]] by American writer [[Frank Herbert]], which first appeared in ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction]]'' magazine in October 1964. It is the second story in Herbert's [[ConSentiency universe]] (after "[[A Matter of Traces]]"), one of his three elaborate universes or franchises spanning multiple volumes (the others being the [[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' universe]] and the [[Destination: Void universe|''Destination: Void'' universe]] developed with co-author Bill Ransom).
''The Tactful Saboteur'' is a [[science fiction]] [[Novella|novelette]] by American writer [[Frank Herbert]], which first appeared in ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction]]'' magazine in October 1964. It is the second story in Herbert's [[ConSentiency universe]], the first being "[[A Matter of Traces]]".

The three chapter story "The Tactful Saboteur", written in a brisk, economical style, proved to be one of Herbert's most popular works. It was subsequently republished in ''The Worlds of Frank Herbert'' in 1971 and again in Herbert's 1985 [[short story]] collection ''[[Eye (short story collection)|Eye]]'' after interest was renewed in the wake of the [[Dune (1984 film)|film adaptation]] of Herbert's novel ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]''.
Its three chapters are written in a brisk, economical style, and it proved to be one of Herbert's most accessible and popular works. It was subsequently republished in ''The Worlds of Frank Herbert'' in 1971, and again in Herbert's 1985 [[short story]] collection ''[[Eye (short story collection)|Eye]]'' after the [[Dune (1984 film)|film adaptation]] of his ''magnum opus'', ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]''.


==Plot==
==Plot==
The protagonist of The Tactful Saboteur is ''saboteur extraordinary'' [[Jorj X. McKie]], an employee of the Bureau of Sabotage (BuSab). BuSab is a government agency responsible for conducting dirty tricks "in lieu of red tape" to help slow down and regulate the vast galaxy-spanning bureaucracy of the ConSentiency. (In keeping with its ethos the Secretary of the agency retains office their until they themselves are sabotaged or resign). Tasked with finding missing saboteur Napoleon Bildoon, McKie attempts to penetrate the secrets of the [[Pan-Spechi]], a race divided into groups of five [[child care|crèche]] mates, only one of whom possess ego-awareness at a time. In so doing he runs afoul of the "Tax Watchers" organization, which is adamantly opposed to the very existence of BuSab.

The protagonist of "The Tactful Saboteur" is ''saboteur extraordinary'' [[Jorj X. McKie]], an employee of the Bureau of Sabotage (or BuSab). BuSab is a government agency responsible for conducting dirty tricks "in lieu of red tape" to help slow down and regulate the vast galaxy-spanning bureaucracy of the ConSentiency (under BuSab rules the Secretary of the agency retains his position until he himself is sabotaged). Tasked with finding missing saboteur Napoleon Bildoon, McKie attempts to penetrate the secrets of the [[Pan-Spechi]], a race divided into groups of five "crèche mates", only one of whom possess ego-awareness at a time. In so doing he runs afoul of the "Tax Watchers" organization, which is adamantly opposed to the existence of BuSab.


==Sources==
==Sources==

Latest revision as of 02:40, 23 April 2024

"The Tactful Saboteur"
Short story by Frank Herbert
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Publication
Published inGalaxy Science Fiction
Publication typePeriodical
Media typePrint (Magazine)
Publication dateOctober 1964magnum opus
Chronology
SeriesConSentiency
 
A Matter of Traces
 
Whipping Star

The Tactful Saboteur is a science fiction novelette by American writer Frank Herbert, which first appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine in October 1964. It is the second story in Herbert's ConSentiency universe, the first being "A Matter of Traces".

Its three chapters are written in a brisk, economical style, and it proved to be one of Herbert's most accessible and popular works. It was subsequently republished in The Worlds of Frank Herbert in 1971, and again in Herbert's 1985 short story collection Eye after the film adaptation of his magnum opus, Dune.

Plot[edit]

The protagonist of The Tactful Saboteur is saboteur extraordinary Jorj X. McKie, an employee of the Bureau of Sabotage (BuSab). BuSab is a government agency responsible for conducting dirty tricks "in lieu of red tape" to help slow down and regulate the vast galaxy-spanning bureaucracy of the ConSentiency. (In keeping with its ethos the Secretary of the agency retains office their until they themselves are sabotaged or resign). Tasked with finding missing saboteur Napoleon Bildoon, McKie attempts to penetrate the secrets of the Pan-Spechi, a race divided into groups of five crèche mates, only one of whom possess ego-awareness at a time. In so doing he runs afoul of the "Tax Watchers" organization, which is adamantly opposed to the very existence of BuSab.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]