The first "traditional" sci-fi I've read for years...

I'm struggling to start this review - the book is largely plot-driven, so there's a fine line between complimenting its virtues and revealing its events.
It has enough of the subtlety and balance of good science-fiction to merit the 8/10 rating, but at the same time is basically a straight-out adventure romp. The optimism and enthusiasm of early science-fiction is still present, as is the confidence required to write a political background for the story. Despite being old-fashioned sci-fi (I suspect it maight have been old-fashioned when published - the darker edge of science fiction was probably on the rise by 1968) it feels oddly relevant. The society under-seige, yet distant from the troubling events, the tension between senseless violence and costly capitulation, the extent to which an end justifies the means...
...or just a straight, one-man-against-the system hero's journey; it's your choice! It shouldn't tax the brain-cells, but then, since when has that been a feature of adventure stories?

Weebly brought this back to release for her animal challenge - but I want to read it first.