Stopped at p. 123. That was enough.

Feels like a mechanical walk-through. It gets from points A to B to C but is uninspired--the plot; the characters; the build-up. It feels like something I could have written and is a good study in something that just cannot get over the hump to be a good story. ( )

This book is collects three of Brunner's shorter works, all set in a similar future where the galactic empire is crumbling and small pockets exist which are try to stave the fall. If that sounds familiar, it is because it is a trope used often by science fiction writers. And, for all I know, this could be a part of a bigger future history that Brunner developed. (While I have read quite a bit of Brunner's work, I am not familiar enough with it to know if this is true.) For this future, mankind has expanded by using the technology of a more advanced civilization. That civilization is long gone, but left its technology behind. That means that humankind knows how to use it, but not replace it. Just part of why the empire is crumbling.

All three stories involve courtly intrigue in a science fiction universe. In "The Altar on Asconel" three brothers are brought back together from the far reaches of the universe to determine what has happened to their home world. After their father's death, the oldest brother was left in charge. But the members of a cult worked their way into his trust and, after his death, have taken the world over – much to the detriment of that world. The brothers come back and help determine the true nature of the cult.

In "The Man from the Big Dark", a world is in civil war as there has been a split over who should take over control. A man arrives on a space ship with a dead body aboard. He sneaks out to work with the current ruling class with the story of how pirates from "The Big Dark" are working with the rebels to take over.

In "The Wanton of Argus", upon the death of a king, a long-lost princess arrives to usurp her younger sister's dreams of power. There also appears a man who has incredible powers – enough to even change documents which might thwart many people's nefarious and non-nefarious schemes. Science fiction begins to take a back seat to magic as the battle results in what might not be a happy ending, but a happy conclusion.

These synopses will give you the accurate sense that there is a sameness to the stories – all intrigue and battles for control of various thrones. And it all might be a bit tedious, if it weren't for the fact that these were written by John Brunner. Yes, they were written in the 50s and 60s with the baggage that carries. But, even at his most average, Brunner is still good. And so these stories are perfectly fine. No they aren't world-shattering, breath-taking, Hugo-winning works. (Goodness knows he has enough of those.) But they are good stories well told. Rush right out to read them? Probably not. Stumble across them, pick them up, and read them for the heck of it? Definitely. ( )