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H. Beam Piper
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A Slave is a Slave Kindle Edition

by H. Beam Piper (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 64 ratings
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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
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  1. Print length
    62 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    March 24, 2011
  5. File size
    204 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004TRPCPS
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 24, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 204 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 62 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

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H. Beam Piper

H. Beam Piper

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
64 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Setemkia Fawn
5.0 out of 5 stars Space opera lesson in politics and civics
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
I have long been a fan of H. Beam Piper and this short novel does not disappoint. Justifying a five-star rating is easy: this is a wonderful story, well told, exciting, entertaining, thought provoking, educational, and enlightening.

This is the story of a benevolent empire taking over a planet of about 12,000 masters and millions of slaves. The catch is the empire does not want to govern individual planets, but it does enforce an absolute prohibition of slavery. What can freedom mean to the inhabitants of this planet and how can the government and society be restructured!?

Piper wrote S.F. where the `S' May be interpreted as science, speculative, or social. On the surface his stories are rip-roaring space operas, action packed and exciting, seemingly light fare, but oh so much more. Though largely self educated he had a superb grasp of history, sociology, economics, politics, and forms of government. These are brilliantly displayed in this story without being didactic.

The outcome of this story is a bit predictable as it is the genuine logical consequence of the premises, how ever this did not detract from my enjoyment of reading to the very end as I was sufficiently interested in the central characters to want to see how they are affected by the final events.

It was a joy to read this electronic transcription as it is well formatted and there are no glaring typos or elisions. It is a joy to read something that has been proofread and corrected.
3 people found this helpful
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Fantasyman
3.0 out of 5 stars Another Sci-FI Tale from H Beam Piper
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013
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Not one of Piper's better stories in my mind. Not badly written, just, not my cup of tea. Having read much of Piper's work, I am convinced that he was a bit of a social Darwinist at heart, and perhaps more than a little of a Fascist. He seems to always believe that might will win out, that force and determination will overcome all obstacles, and that the mass of humanity are little more than willful pawns in the game played between greater powers. That the cunning and guileful will always lead the masses, conversely, that the masses are always weak and in need of a powerful hand to guide them. The whole intricate concept of free will doesn't seem to enter into the equation, then again, it is after all just a story.

As I said, this isn't one of his better offerings in my opinion, then again, my opinion isn't what counts, yours is. Read it for yourself and decide.
One person found this helpful
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PJL
4.0 out of 5 stars More than one way to be enslaved
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2011
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The Galactic Empire, emerging from a dark age, has forcibly annexed the planet Aditya. Their purpose is not to conquer, but to stop potential interplanetary wars, so they allow annexed planets to continue to rule themselves. They do impose one rule, however: slavery is not allowed. And Aditya is a slave planet: .1% of the people own the other 99.9%.

This marvelous little short story follows what happens as the Empire's representative, the inexperienced son of a politically well-connected rich family, goes about freeing the slaves, applying the high moral principles that he learned at university -- principles as firmly held as they are untested in practice.

Originally published in 1962. The military elemtent is minor, as is the scientific speculation. This story is a commentary on the socio-economics of slavery in its many forms.
6 people found this helpful
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H A G
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent military sci fi - You can't save people from themselves
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
An immensely entertaining story by H. Beam Piper set several centuries after the events in SPACE VIKING. An Imperial Line Battle Unit (one capital ship, two transport cruisers, and four destroyers) is tasked with bringing the isolated planet Aditya into the Empire.

The planet was first colonized over a thousand years earlier. Five centuries later a Space Viking fleet came in and took over. The Imperial find themselves with a knotty problem - how do you save people who do not want to be saved?
One person found this helpful
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Sky
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and worth your time
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013
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The 59 page story written over 50 years ago is so apt for the current time when the wealthiest 1% of the world own about 39% of the wealth. Piper was not a university graduate and it shows. He has a cynical view of the university liberal. This book also has a cynical view of the 99%. However, it is entertaining to read and it makes you think about the definition of a slave.
One person found this helpful
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