![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Kristine Smith, Code of Conduct
Avon (1999) ISBN: 0-380-80783-1
Score: 2
Start of a science fiction series about documents technician Jani Kilian. Jani is a lot like Hodgell's Jamethiel and Kage Baker's Mendoza (very good at her job, very bad at dealing with people, and very destructive when pushed too far). She'd been hiding from the authorities for 18 years (due to her actions during an alien civil war), when an old flame (now Internal Minister) asks her to investigate his wife's death. Lots of lies, politics, and manipulation ensue. At the end I wasn't too sure who knew what when, nor who was working for whom, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Avon (1999) ISBN: 0-380-80783-1
Score: 2
Start of a science fiction series about documents technician Jani Kilian. Jani is a lot like Hodgell's Jamethiel and Kage Baker's Mendoza (very good at her job, very bad at dealing with people, and very destructive when pushed too far). She'd been hiding from the authorities for 18 years (due to her actions during an alien civil war), when an old flame (now Internal Minister) asks her to investigate his wife's death. Lots of lies, politics, and manipulation ensue. At the end I wasn't too sure who knew what when, nor who was working for whom, but it was still an enjoyable read.
(no subject)
(no subject)
Jani noted the large case's double touchlocks and felt a pleasant shiver of anticipation. She hadn't had the opportunity to handle close-controlled paper since her Service days.
Jani removed the sheet of Consulate paper from her inside shirt pocket and handed it to the supervisor.
"You folded it," he said, in a tone one might reserve for a slaughterer of baby animals. "Don't you know better than that?" [...] "I hope you didn't catch the code inset chip in the fold," the supervisor interrupted. "That would necessitate surgical repair before I could attempt a full scan. Something this old could take days to heal."
"Codes for that series of sheets were set in the lower left quadrant" Jani said, "just right of quadrant center. I took great care to leave that area smooth."
The supervisor's head shot up. "How do you know that?"
"You really killed Riky Neumann?"
"Yes."
"But he drew first? It was self-defense?"
"His hand went to his holster. I wasn't going to wait to discover whether he was serious or just bluffing. Considering I'd just threatened to declare anarchy rules, relieve him of command, and place him under arrest, I don't think he was simply trying to gauge my reaction."
"Anarchy rules? You were going to take over command?"
"The integrity of the documents in my care was threatened. I saw no other alternative. I was within my rights."
(no subject)
So is the book a grim dystopia, with bureaucracy run amok, or is there a good reason for this attitude toward paperwork?