The Paradox Men

The Paradox Men is one of those science fiction classics we here at the blog have heard is a great novel. Unfortunately, it's zany, fast-paced plot, nonsensical setting, and lack of greater characterization leads one to wonder how or why it became a classic to some readers. Harness's clever use of Einstein, Toynbee, and Aristotle for the science fiction mumbo jumbo window-dressing was the best part of this tale, as it brings to the table time travel paradoxes and ludicrous things like solarions and the comeback of fencing with rapiers. One can sort of see why The Paradox Men has been compared with the great works of Alfred Bester, and it does feature a somewhat interesting dystopian future with the return of slavery, an Imperial America ruling the Western hemisphere, and an organization known as the Thieves who seek to undermine the institution of slavery and Imperial America's ultimate goal of defeating the Easterners, which would surely end in the destruction of humanity. Sure, there's a lot of heavy-handed social and political commentary in this novel published during the height of the Cold War. But the time traveling paradox and interesting use of Toynbee and Einstein almost make up for the blandness of Alar as a protagonist. This work almost brings to mind Delany's Empire Star, but Delany handled it more effectively.