By Michael Grossberg
Leading libertarian thinker and economist David D. Friedman counts himself a fan of science-fiction writer Karl K. Gallagher.
In a fascinating question and answer session at the end of the 45th Prometheus Awards ceremony, Friedman singled out just a few science fiction authors for praise – including Vernor Vinge, Robert Heinlein, C.J. Cherryh, Lois McMaster Bujold and Gallagher.
Gallagher’s novels are “well-written and interesting,” said Friedman, himself a Prometheus-nominated fantasy novelist.
Friedman, nominated for Harald, also has written Salamander, which he views as his favorite and best-written novel, and Brothers, a sequel to Harald.
THE TORCHSHIP TRILOGY
Friedman said he especially enjoyed the three novels in Gallagher’s interstellar Torchship trilogy: Torchship, Torchship Pilot and Torchship Captain.
Set centuries from now when human beings inhabit several solar systems, the trilogy charts the perilous voyage and obstacles faced of the captain and crew of an interstellar freighter, as they strive to make a profit even after being caught up in a civil war.
The three Torchship novels were combined by Libertarian Futurist Society judges into one nomination (since together, they tell one complete story) and became a 2018 Best Novel finalist – Gallagher’s first recognition in the Prometheus Awards.
“It has interesting ideas in it, and an interesting story,” Friedman said.
Friedman singled out two aspects of Gallagher’s stories and themes for their insight and relevance to our understanding of real-world economics, history and human nature.
One is the idea of recognizing the role of status in human care, he said.
The other is “the idea that societies are threatened by people who feel they are low status,” Friedman said.
“In the modern world, one solution to that is to create imaginary people who have the lowest status, and pretending that the really lowest people are really on a level above,” he said.
“I thought that was a very clever idea, and possibly with real-world relevance.”
GALLAGHER’S ONGOING FALL OF THE CENSOR SERIES
Now a seven-time Prometheus Awards nominee and Best Novel finalist, Gallagher is currently nearing completion of his epic and ambitious 8- or 9-volume Fall of the Censor series.
Launched with Storm Between the Stars, a 2021 Best Novel finalist, the libertarian-themed space-opera saga explores a vast interstellar polity’s use of narrative control and memory-holing to cement power.
The story begins when merchants in a ship from an isolated group of solar systems discover a new hyperspatial route to regain long-lost contact with the rest of humanity. They must deal with a centralized human empire founded on a fictitious history while establishing trade relations with businesses that operate through family ties and underground barter.
Gallagher’s cautionary tale illuminates the repercussions of official truth, censorship and the denial of history, while exploring strategies for economic survival and the pursuit of knowledge under a repressive government.
The series continues with Between Home and Ruin (Book 2), Seize What’s Held Dear (Book 3), Captain Trader Helmsman Spy (Book 4), Swim Among the People (Book 5), Trouble In My Day (Book 6) and War by Other Means (Book 7).
All the novels have gone on to become Best Novel finalists except for Trouble in My Day and War By Other Means, only recently nominated for the next Prometheus Award, which will be presented in 2026.
The Prometheus Awards Best Novel Judging Committee won’t select a slate of finalists until April 2026 from the 2025 nominees.
So far, just four novels have been nominated by Libertarian Futurist Society members for the next Prometheus Award: Storm-Dragon, by Dave Freer; War by Other Means, by Karl K. Gallagher; Where the Axe is Buried, by Ray Nayler; and Powerless, by Harry Turtledove.
To suggest (by outside publishers and authors) or nominate (by LFS members) other eligible 2025 novels for the next Prometheus Award, contact Michael Grossberg, who chairs the Prometheus Best Novel Judging Committee.
WATCH THE 45TH PROMETHEUS AWARDS CEREMONY
* Watch the full 45-minute video of the 45th Prometheus Awards ceremony, which was recorded, posted on YouTube and is available to see here.
ABOUT THE PROMETHEUS AWARDS AND THE LFS
* Join us! To help sustain the Prometheus Awards and support a cultural and literary strategy to appreciate and honor freedom-loving fiction, join the Libertarian Futurist Society, a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf/fantasy fans.
Libertarian futurists understand that culture matters. We believe that literature and the arts can be vital in envisioning a freer and better future. In some ways, culture can be even more influential and powerful than politics in the long run, by imagining better visions of the future incorporating peace, prosperity, progress, tolerance, justice, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other’s rights, human dignity, individuality and peaceful choices.
* Prometheus winners: For a full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees – including in the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards – visit the enhanced Prometheus Awards page on the LFS website. This page includes convenient links to all published essay-reviews in our Appreciation series explaining why each of more than 100 past winners since 1979 fits the awards’ distinctive dual focus on both quality and liberty.
* Watch videos of past Prometheus Awards ceremonies, Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog’s Video page.
* Read “The Libertarian History of Science Fiction,” an essay in the international magazine Quillette that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.
* Check out the Libertarian Futurist Society’s Facebook page for comments, updates and links to the latest Prometheus Blog posts.
